Accessory device

ABSTRACT

The first operation portion is configured to be pressed by one hand of a user holding a grip portion. The first button depression portion is configured to move toward a first button of a game controller secured in a compartment, thereby pressing the first button of the game controller secured in the compartment, in response to the pressing operation on the first operation portion. The second operation portion is configured to be pressed by the other hand of the user holding the grip portion. The second button depression portion is configured to move toward a second button of the game controller secured in the compartment, thereby pressing the second button of the game controller secured in the compartment, in response to the pressing operation on the second operation portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/109,288, filed Dec. 2, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/254,277, filed on Jan. 22, 2019, now U.S. Pat.No. 10,881,952, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/626,488, filed on Jun. 19, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,220,309, whichclaims priority to the disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.2017-002536 filed on Jan. 11, 2017, each of which is incorporated hereinby reference.

FIELD

The technology disclosed herein relates to an accessory device for usewith a game controller.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Accessory units are known in the art that are used with game controllersfitted into the accessory units. For example, one such accessory unit isa steering wheel-shaped accessory unit operated by being rotated as awhole, with a game controller attached thereto.

These accessory units, however, had room for improvement in terms oftheir usability when used with game controllers.

It is therefore an object of at least one exemplary aspect to provide anaccessory device having a better usability.

At least one exemplary aspect may employ following configurations toattain the object set forth above. Note that in interpreting the claims,it is understood that the scope thereof should be interpreted basedsolely on the wording of the claims, and wherever the wording of theclaims is inconsistent with the description hereinbelow, the wording ofthe claims precedes.

A first example of an accessory device according to at least oneexemplary aspect is for use with a game controller that includes atleast a first button and a second button. The accessory device includesa compartment, a grip portion, a first movable portion and a secondmovable portion. The compartment is configured to removably secure thegame controller therein. The grip portion is configured to be held by auser with both hands. The first movable portion includes a firstoperation portion and a first button depression portion. The firstoperation portion is configured to be pressed by one hand of the userholding the grip portion. The first button depression portion isconfigured to move toward the first button of the game controllersecured in the compartment, thereby pressing the first button of thegame controller secured in the compartment, in response to the pressingoperation on the first operation portion. The second movable portionincludes a second operation portion and a second button depressionportion. The second operation portion is configured to be pressed by theother hand of the user holding the grip portion. The second buttondepression portion is configured to move toward the second button of thegame controller secured in the compartment, thereby pressing the secondbutton of the game controller secured in the compartment, in response tothe pressing operation on the second operation portion.

With the configuration above, by moving a plurality of movable portionsprovided on the accessory device while holding the accessory device, itis possible to operate a plurality of buttons provided on the gamecontroller secured in the accessory device, thus improving the usabilityof the accessory device.

The first button depression portion may be configured to press the firstbutton of the game controller by projecting through an upper surface ofthe compartment toward the first button of the game controller securedin the compartment in response to the pressing operation on the firstoperation portion. The second button depression portion may beconfigured to press the second button of the game controller byprojecting through the upper surface of the compartment toward thesecond button of the game controller secured in the compartment inresponse to the pressing operation on the second operation portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to press the first buttonand the second button of the game controller.

The first movable portion may be configured so that when the firstbutton of the game controller is brought from a non-pressed position toa pressed position by the first movable portion, an amount of movementby which the first button depression portion moves toward the firstbutton of the game controller secured in the compartment is smaller thanan amount of movement by which the first operation portion moves. Thesecond movable portion may be configured so that when the second buttonof the game controller is brought from a non-pressed position to apressed position by the second movable portion, an amount of movement bywhich the second button depression portion moves toward the secondbutton of the game controller secured in the compartment is smaller thanan amount of movement by which the second operation portion moves.

With the configuration above, it is possible to further improve thecontrollability when operating the first button and the second button.

The first movable portion may further include a first shaft portion anda first arm portion. The first arm portion connects the first operationportion and the first button depression portion and is configured topivot about the first shaft portion. The second movable portion mayfurther include a second shaft portion and a second arm portion. Thesecond arm portion connects the second operation portion and the secondbutton depression portion and is configured to pivot about the secondshaft portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to operate a plurality ofbuttons provided on the game controller utilizing the leverage function.

The first arm portion may be configured so that a distance between thefirst operation portion and the first shaft portion is greater than adistance between the first button depression portion and the first shaftportion. The second arm portion may be configured so that a distancebetween the second operation portion and the second shaft portion isgreater than a distance between the second button depression portion andthe second shaft portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to operate a plurality ofbuttons provided on the game controller with a small operating force.

The first button depression portion includes an actuation surfaceconfigured to be in contact with the first button, the actuation surfacehaving edges, and one of the edges that is closest to the first shaftportion may be chamfered with a first amount of chamfer, and another oneof the edges that is farthest away from the first shaft portion may bechamfered with an amount of chamfer smaller than the first amount ofchamfer. The second button depression portion includes an actuationsurface configured to be in contact with the second button, theactuation surface having edges, and one of the edges that is closest tothe second shaft portion may be chamfered with a second amount ofchamfer, and another one of the edges that is farthest away from thesecond shaft portion may be chamfered with an amount of chamfer smallerthan the second amount of chamfer.

The first button depression portion includes an actuation surfaceconfigured to be in contact with the first button, the actuation surfacehaving edges, and one of the edges that first comes in proximity to thefirst button when the first button depression portion moves toward thefirst button of the game controller secured in the compartment may bechamfered with a first amount of chamfer, and another one of the edgesthat is opposite from that edge may be chamfered with an amount ofchamfer smaller than the first amount of chamfer. The second buttondepression portion includes an actuation surface configured to be incontact with the second button, the actuation surface having edges, andone of the edges that first comes in proximity to the second button whenthe second button depression portion moves toward the second button ofthe game controller secured in the compartment may be chamfered with asecond amount of chamfer, and another one of the edges opposite fromthat edge may be chamfered with an amount of chamfer smaller than thesecond amount of chamfer.

A position of the first button depression portion may be offset from aposition of the first operation portion by a predetermined distance inan axial direction of the first shaft portion. A position of the secondbutton depression portion may be offset from a position of the secondoperation portion by a predetermined distance in an axial direction ofthe second shaft portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to realize a degree offreedom in designing the arrangement of the first operation portion andthe second operation portion, without being restricted by the positionof the game controller to be attached.

A position of the first button depression portion may be offset from aposition of the first operation portion by a predetermined distance in afront-rear direction. A position of the second button depression portionmay be offset from a position of the second operation portion by apredetermined distance in the front-rear direction.

With the configuration above, it is possible to freely arrange the firstoperation portion and the second operation portion, without beingrestricted by the position of the game controller to be attached.

A frontmost portion of an area of the first operation portion that isconfigured to be contacted by a finger of a user may be located rearwardof a rearmost portion of an actuation surface of the first buttondepression portion configured to be in contact with the first button. Afrontmost portion of an area of the second operation portion that isconfigured to be contacted by a finger of a user may be located rearwardof a rearmost portion of an actuation surface of the second buttondepression portion configured to be in contact with the second button.

With the configuration above, it is possible to realize a degree offreedom in designing the arrangement of the first operation portion andthe second operation portion, without being restricted by the positionof the game controller to be attached.

A width of the first button depression portion in a predetermineddirection may be greater than a width of the first button in thepredetermined direction. A width of the second button depression portionin the predetermined direction may be greater than a width of the secondbutton in the predetermined direction.

With the configuration above, it is possible to reduce the excessiveload to be given by the right button depression portion and the secondbutton depression portion to the first button and the second button.

The predetermined direction may be a front-rear direction.

With the configuration above, it is possible to reduce the excessiveload to be given by the first button depression portion and the secondbutton depression portion to the first button and the second button.

The compartment may further include at least a first biasing portion anda second biasing portion. The first biasing portion is configured tobias the game controller in a direction substantially opposite from adirection in which the first button of the game controller is pressed bythe first button depression portion when the game controller is securedin the compartment. The second biasing portion is configured to bias thegame controller in a direction substantially opposite from a directionin which the second button of the game controller is pressed by thesecond button depression portion when the game controller is secured inthe compartment, wherein the second biasing portion is located rightwardof the first biasing portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to stably press the firstbutton and the second button.

The first biasing portion may be located at a position in thecompartment directly below the first button depression portion or belowand leftward of the first button depression portion. The second biasingportion may be located at a position in the compartment directly belowthe second button depression portion or below and rightward of thesecond button depression portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to more stably press thefirst button and the second button.

The compartment may include a recessed portion through which a part of aside surface of the game controller is exposed when the game controlleris secured in the compartment.

With the configuration above, it is easy to remove the game controllerfrom the accessory device.

The first operation portion and the second operation portion may be bothlocated on a rear surface of the accessory device. The accessory devicemay further include a raised portion on a rear side of the grip portion,configured to protrude further rearward than the first operation portionand the second operation portion.

With the configuration above, when the accessory device contacts thefloor surface, or the like, it is possible to reduce the shock to beapplied to the first operation portion and the second operation portion.

The grip portion may include a rim portion having a generally circularouter edge.

With the configuration above, an operation such as rotating theaccessory device as a whole while holding the grip portion is easy.

The rim portion may include a front surface portion on a front side ofthe accessory device and a rear surface portion on a rear side of theaccessory device, and the front surface portion and the rear surfaceportion are attached together, forming seams therebetween on an innerside and on an outer side of the rim portion. The seam on the inner sideof the rim portion may be offset toward the front side with respect tothe seam on the outer side of the rim portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to improve the feel whenholding the grip portion.

A second example of an accessory device according to at least oneexemplary aspect is for use with a first game controller including aprotruding portion on a rear surface thereof, a second game controllerincluding a protruding portion on a rear surface thereof, the secondgame controller having a shape different from that of the first gamecontroller. The accessory device includes a compartment. The compartmentis configured to allow both of the first game controller and the secondgame controller to be removably attached thereto, one at a time, andconfigured to removably secure both of the first game controller and thesecond game controller therein, one at a time. The compartment includesa first engagement portion and a second engagement portion. The firstengagement portion is located on a first side in a predetermineddirection and configured to engage with the protruding portion of thefirst game controller. The second engagement portion is located on asecond side in the predetermined direction and configured to engage withthe protruding portion of the second game controller.

With the configuration above, it is possible to realize an accessorydevice such that game controllers of different shapes can be attached toand detached from the accessory device.

The first engagement portion may have a dented shape that is configuredto engage with the protruding portion of the first game controller whenthe first game controller is secured in the compartment. The secondengagement portion may have a dented shape that is configured to engagewith the protruding portion of the second game controller when thesecond game controller is secured in the compartment.

With the configuration above, the dented shape to engage with theprotruding portion of the first game controller and the dented shape toengage with the protruding portion of the second game controller areformed separately, thereby realizing an accessory device such that gamecontrollers of different shapes can be attached to and detached from theaccessory device.

The first game controller may include at least a first operation inputportion. The second game controller may include at least a secondoperation input portion. The accessory device may include a first markand a second mark. The first mark is configured to be substantially inline with the first operation input portion when the protruding portionof the first game controller is in engagement with the first engagementportion. The second mark is configured to be substantially in line withthe second operation input portion when the protruding portion of thesecond game controller is in engagement with the second engagementportion.

With the configuration above, a user can intuitively understand thedirection and the position of attachment of the first controller or thesecond game controller to the accessory device.

The first game controller may include at least a first button. Thesecond game controller may include at least a second button. Theaccessory device may further include a first movable portion and a gripportion. The grip portion is configured to be held by a user with bothhands. The first movable portion may include a first operation portionand a first button depression portion. The first operation portion isconfigured to be pressed by one hand of the user holding the gripportion. The first button depression portion is configured to movetoward either the first game controller or the second game controllersecured in the compartment in response to the pressing operation on thefirst operation portion, thereby pressing the first button when theprotruding portion of the first game controller is in engagement withthe first engagement portion and pressing the second button when theprotruding portion of the second game controller is in engagement withthe second engagement portion.

With the configuration above, by moving the movable portions provided onthe accessory device while holding the accessory device, it is possibleto operate buttons provided on a game controller with any gamecontroller attached to the accessory device.

The first game controller may further include a third button. The secondgame controller may further include a fourth button. The accessorydevice may further include a second movable portion. The second movableportion includes a second operation portion and a second buttondepression portion. The second operation portion is configured to bepressed by the other hand of the user holding the grip portion. Thesecond button depression portion is configured to move toward either thefirst game controller or the second game controller secured in thecompartment in response to the pressing operation on the secondoperation portion, thereby pressing the third button when the protrudingportion of the first game controller is in engagement with the firstengagement portion and pressing the fourth button when the protrudingportion of the second game controller is in engagement with the secondengagement portion.

With the configuration above, by moving a plurality of movable portionsprovided on the accessory device while holding the accessory device, itis possible to operate a plurality of buttons provided on the gamecontroller with any game controller attached to the accessory device,thereby realizing a variety of operations using the accessory device.

A length from a left end of the first game controller, which is on aleft side when the first game controller is in engagement with the firstengagement portion, to the first button may be a first length, and alength from a right end of the first game controller, which is on aright side when the first game controller is in engagement with thefirst engagement portion, to the third button may be a third length. Alength from a left end of the second game controller, which is on a leftside when the second game controller is in engagement with the secondengagement portion, to the second button may be a second length greaterthan the first length, and a length from a right end of the second gamecontroller, which is on a right side when the second game controller isin engagement with the second engagement portion, to the fourth buttonmay be a fourth length less than the third length. In this case, alength from a left end surface of the compartment, configured to contactthe left end of the second game controller when the protruding portionof the second game controller is in engagement with the secondengagement portion, to a position at which the first button depressionportion protrudes may be the second length, and a length from a rightend surface of the compartment configured to contact the right end ofthe first game controller when the protruding portion of the first gamecontroller is in engagement with the first engagement portion, to aposition at which the second button depression portion protrudes may bethe third length.

With the configuration above, even if the arrangement of buttons varies,the buttons can be pressed by the same movable portions by attaching thegame controllers at positions that are offset from each other in theleft-right direction.

The first movable portion may further include a first shaft portion anda first arm portion. The first arm portion connects the first operationportion and the first button depression portion and is configured topivot about the first shaft portion. The second movable portion mayfurther include a second shaft portion and a second arm portion. Thesecond arm portion connects the second operation portion and the secondbutton depression portion and is configured to pivot about the secondshaft portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to operate a plurality ofbuttons provided on the game controller utilizing the leverage function.

The first arm portion may be configured so that a distance between thefirst operation portion and the first shaft portion is greater than adistance between the first button depression portion and the first shaftportion. The second arm portion may be configured so that a distancebetween the second operation portion and the second shaft portion isgreater than a distance between the second button depression portion andthe second shaft portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to operate a plurality ofbuttons provided on the game controller with a small operating force.

A position of the first button depression portion may be offset from aposition of the first operation portion by a predetermined distance inan axial direction of the first shaft portion. A position of the secondbutton depression portion may be offset from a position of the secondoperation portion by a predetermined distance in an axial direction ofthe second shaft portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to realize a degree offreedom in designing the arrangement of the first operation portion andthe second operation portion, without being restricted by the positionof the game controller to be attached.

The first movable portion may be configured so that when the firstbutton of the first game controller is brought from a non-pressedposition to a pressed position by the first movable portion, an amountof movement by which the first button depression portion moves towardthe first button of the first game controller in engagement with thefirst engagement portion is smaller than an amount of movement by whichthe first operation portion moves. The second movable portion may beconfigured so that when the second button of the second game controlleris brought from a non-pressed position to a pressed position by thesecond movable portion, an amount of movement by which the second buttondepression portion moves toward the second button of the second gamecontroller in engagement with the second engagement portion is smallerthan an amount of movement by which the second operation portion moves.

With the configuration above, it is possible to further improve thecontrollability when operating the buttons.

A length of the first game controller or the second game controller in avertical direction when the first game controller or the second gamecontroller is secured in the compartment may be a fifth length, and alength of the first game controller or the second game controller in ahorizontal direction when the first game controller or the second gamecontroller is secured in the compartment may be a sixth length. A lengthin the vertical direction of the compartment may be such that an objectof the fifth length can be secured in the compartment. A length in thehorizontal direction of the compartment may be greater than the sixthlength.

With the configuration above, differences in dimension between differentshapes can be absorbed, thereby allowing game controllers of differentshapes to be attached.

The compartment may further include at least two biasing portions. Thebiasing portions may be configured to bias the game controller upwardand downward, respectively, so as to secure the game controller when theprotruding portion of the first game controller is in engagement withthe first engagement portion and when the protruding portion of thesecond game controller is in engagement with the second engagementportion.

With the configuration above, the game controller can be stably attachedto the accessory device.

A third example of an accessory device according to at least oneexemplary aspect is for use with a first game controller including atleast a first button and a second button and a protruding portion on arear surface thereof, and a second game controller including at least athird button and a fourth button and a protruding portion on a rearsurface thereof, the second game controller having a different shapefrom that of the first game controller. The accessory device includes acompartment, a first movable portion and a second movable portion. Thecompartment is configured to allow both of the first game controller andthe second game controller to be removably attached thereto, one at atime, and configured to removably secure both of the first gamecontroller and the second game controller therein, one at a time. Thecompartment includes a first engagement portion and a second engagementportion. The first engagement portion is located on a first side in apredetermined direction and configured to engage with the protrudingportion of the first game controller. The second engagement portion islocated on a second side in the predetermined direction and configuredto engage with the protruding portion of the second game controller. Thefirst movable portion includes a first operation portion and a firstbutton depression portion. The first button depression portion isconfigured to press the first button of the first game controller whenthe protruding portion of the first game controller is in engagementwith the first engagement portion and configured to press the thirdbutton of the second game controller when the protruding portion of thesecond game controller is in engagement with the second engagementportion. The second movable portion includes a second operation portionand a second button depression portion. The second button depressionportion is configured to press the second button of the first gamecontroller when the protruding portion of the first game controller isin engagement with the first engagement portion and configured to pressthe fourth button of the second game controller when the protrudingportion of the second game controller is in engagement with the secondengagement portion.

With the configuration above, by moving a plurality of movable portionsprovided on the accessory device, it is possible to operate a pluralityof buttons provided on the game controller secured in the accessorydevice, thus improving the usability of the accessory device. It ispossible to realize an accessory device such that game controllers ofdifferent shapes can be attached to and detached from the accessorydevice.

The accessory device may further include a grip portion. The gripportion is configured to be held by a user with both hands. In thiscase, the first operation portion may be configured to be pressed by onehand of the user holding the grip portion. The second operation portionmay be configured to be pressed by the other hand of the user holdingthe grip portion.

With the configuration above, by moving a plurality of movable portionsprovided on the accessory device while holding the accessory device, itis possible to operate a plurality of buttons provided on the gamecontroller secured in the accessory device, thus improving the usabilityof the accessory device.

The first movable portion may be configured so that when the firstbutton of the first game controller in engagement with the firstengagement portion is brought from a non-pressed position to a pressedposition by the first movable portion, an amount of movement by whichthe first button depression portion moves toward the first button issmaller than an amount of movement by which the first operation portionmoves, and configured so that when the third button of the second gamecontroller in engagement with the second engagement portion is broughtfrom a non-pressed position to a pressed position by the first movableportion, an amount of movement by which the first button depressionportion moves toward the third button is smaller than an amount ofmovement by which the first operation portion moves. The second movableportion may be configured so that when the second button of the firstgame controller in engagement with the first engagement portion isbrought from a non-pressed position to a pressed position by the secondmovable portion, an amount of movement by which the second buttondepression portion moves toward the second button is smaller than anamount of movement by which the second operation portion moves, andconfigured so that when the fourth button of the second game controllerin engagement with the second engagement portion is brought from anon-pressed position to a pressed position by the second movableportion, an amount of movement by which the second button depressionportion moves toward the fourth button is smaller than an amount ofmovement by which the second operation portion moves.

With the configuration above, it is possible to further improve thecontrollability when operating the first button, the second button, thethird button and the fourth button.

The first movable portion may further include a first shaft portion anda first arm portion. The first arm portion connects the first operationportion and the first button depression portion and is configured topivot about the first shaft portion. The second movable portion mayfurther include a second shaft portion and a second arm portion. Thesecond arm portion connects the second operation portion and the secondbutton depression portion and is configured to pivot about the secondshaft portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to operate a plurality ofbuttons provided on the first game controller or the second gamecontroller utilizing the leverage effect.

The first arm portion may be configured so that a distance between thefirst operation portion and the first shaft portion is greater than adistance between the first button depression portion and the first shaftportion. The second arm portion may be configured so that a distancebetween the second operation portion and the second shaft portion isgreater than a distance between the second button depression portion andthe second shaft portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to operate a plurality ofbuttons provided on the first game controller or the second gamecontroller with a small operating force.

A position of the first button depression portion may be offset from aposition of the first operation portion by a predetermined distance inan axial direction of the first shaft portion. A position of the secondbutton depression portion may be offset from a position of the secondoperation portion by a predetermined distance in an axial direction ofthe second shaft portion.

With the configuration above, it is possible to realize a degree offreedom in designing the arrangement of the first operation portion andthe second operation portion, without being restricted by the positionof the first game controller or the second game controller to beattached.

A position of the first button depression portion may be offset from aposition of the first operation portion by a predetermined distance in afront-rear direction. A position of the second button depression portionmay be offset from a position of the second operation portion by apredetermined distance in the front-rear direction.

With the configuration above, it is possible to freely arrange the firstoperation portion and the second operation portion, without beingrestricted by the position of the first game controller or the secondgame controller to be attached.

A frontmost portion of an area of the first operation portion that isconfigured to be contacted by a finger of a user may be located rearwardof a rearmost portion of an actuation surface of the first buttondepression portion configured to be in contact with the first button orthe third button. A frontmost portion of an area of the second operationportion that is configured to be contacted by a finger of a user may belocated rearward of a rearmost portion of an actuation surface of thesecond button depression portion configured to be in contact with thesecond button or the fourth button.

With the configuration above, it is possible to realize a degree offreedom in designing the arrangement of the first operation portion andthe second operation portion, without being restricted by the positionof the first game controller or the second game controller to beattached.

A width of the first button depression portion in a predetermineddirection may be greater than a width of the first button and the thirdbutton in the predetermined direction. A width of the second buttondepression portion in the predetermined direction may be greater than awidth of the second button and the fourth button in the predetermineddirection.

With the configuration above, it is possible to reduce the excessiveload to be applied by the first button depression portion and the secondbutton depression portion to the first button, the second button, thethird button and the fourth button.

The first game controller may further include a first operation inputportion. The second game controller may further include a secondoperation input portion. In this case, the accessory device may includea first mark and a second mark. The first mark is configured to besubstantially in line with the first operation input portion when theprotruding portion of the first game controller is in engagement withthe first engagement portion. The second mark is configured to besubstantially in line with the second operation input portion when theprotruding portion of the second game controller is in engagement withthe second engagement portion.

With the configuration above, the dented shape to engage with theprotruding portion formed on the rear surface of the first gamecontroller and the dented shape to engage with the protruding portionformed on the rear surface of the second game controller are formedseparately, thereby realizing an accessory device such that gamecontrollers of different shapes can be attached to and detached from theaccessory device.

According to the aspects discussed herein, it is possible to improve theusability of an accessory device.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a non-limiting example state in which a left controller 3and a right controller 4 are attached to a main unit 2;

FIG. 2 is a non-limiting example state in which the left controller 3and the right controller 4 are detached from the main unit 2;

FIG. 3 is a six-sided view showing a non-limiting example of the mainunit 2;

FIG. 4 is a six-sided view showing a non-limiting example of the leftcontroller 3;

FIG. 5 is a six-sided view showing a non-limiting example of the rightcontroller 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a non-limiting example internalconfiguration of the main unit 2;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a non-limiting example internalconfiguration of the main unit 2, the left controller 3 and the rightcontroller 4;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a non-limiting example of theexternal appearance of a steering wheel-shaped attachment 200;

FIG. 9 is a six-sided view showing a non-limiting example of theexternal appearance of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a non-limiting exampleconfiguration of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 as seen fromsection A-A;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a non-limiting exampleconfiguration of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 as seen fromsection B-B;

FIG. 12 illustrates a non-limiting example state in which the leftcontroller 3 or the right controller 4 is to be attached to the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200;

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a non-limiting example state in whichthe left controller 3 is attached to the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200;

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a non-limiting example state in whichthe right controller 4 is attached to the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200;

FIG. 15 is an internal structure diagram showing a non-limiting exampleof the operation of a left movable portion 202L and a right movableportion 202R in the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a non-limiting example of theexternal appearance of the right movable portion 202R;

FIG. 17 is a three-sided view showing a non-limiting example of theexternal appearance of the right movable portion 202R;

FIG. 18 shows a non-limiting example of how a user performs a gameoperation by holding the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 with theleft controller 3 or the right controller 4 attached thereto;

FIG. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a non-limitingexample structure of a movable portion 302 provided on a steeringwheel-shaped attachment;

FIG. 20 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a non-limitingexample structure of a movable portion 303 provided on a steeringwheel-shaped attachment; and

FIG. 21 is an internal structure diagram showing a non-limiting examplestructure of a movable portion 304 provided on a steering wheel-shapedattachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

An information processing system according to at least one exemplaryaspect will now be described. An example information processing systemincludes a main unit (information processing device, serving as a gamedevice main unit) 2, a left controller 3, a right controller 4, and asteering wheel-shaped attachment 200. The left controller 3 and theright controller 4 can each be attached to and detached from the mainunit 2. The left controller 3 and the right controller 4 can be attachedto, and used as an integral unit with, the main unit 2, or the main unit2 can be used as a separate unit from the left controller 3 and theright controller 4 (see FIG. 2 ). The information processing system canbe used in a mode in which the image is displayed on the main unit 2,and another mode in which the image is displayed on a different displaydevice (e.g., a stationary monitor) such as a TV. In the former mode,the information processing system can be used as a portable device(e.g., a portable game device). In the latter mode, the informationprocessing system can be used as a home-console device (e.g., ahome-console game device). The steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 ofthe information processing system can be used as an extension controllerdevice with either the left controller 3 or the right controller 4attached to a part of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200. Notethat as will be clear from the description below, either the leftcontroller 3 or the right controller 4 can be attached to and detachedfrom the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200. The term “accessorydevice” as used herein includes units such as so-called extension unitsand attachments.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the left controller 3 and the rightcontroller 4 are attached to the main unit 2. As shown in FIG. 1 , theleft controller 3 and the right controller 4 are attached to andcombined with the main unit 2. The main unit 2 is a unit for executingvarious processes (e.g., game processes) in the information processingsystem. The main unit 2 includes a display 12. The left controller 3 andthe right controller 4 each include an operation section allowing a userto provide an input.

FIG. 2 shows an example where the left controller 3 and the rightcontroller 4 are detached from the main unit 2. As shown in FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 , the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 can beattached to and detached from the main unit 2. The left controller 3 canbe attached to the left side surface of the main unit 2 (the sidesurface on the x-axis positive direction side shown in FIG. 1 ). Theleft controller 3 can be attached to and detached from the main unit 2by being slid in the y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 against the leftside surface of the main unit 2. The right controller 4 can be attachedto the right side surface of the main unit 2 (the side surface on thex-axis negative direction side shown in FIG. 1 ). The right controller 4can be attached to and detached from the main unit 2 by being slid inthe y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 against the right side surface ofthe main unit 2. Note that the left controller 3 and the rightcontroller 4 may be referred to generally as “controllers”. Note that inat least one exemplary aspect, the “controller device” to be operated byone user may be a single controller (e.g., one of the left controller 3and the right controller 4), or a plurality of controllers (e.g., bothof the left controller 3 and the right controller 4, and possiblyincluding other controllers). The “controller device” can be implementedby one or more controller. In at least one exemplary aspect by attachingone controller (e.g., the right controller 4) to an accessory device(e.g., the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200), a user can operate theaccessory device to thereby control information processes (e.g., gameprocesses) being executed by the main unit 2. A specific exampleconfiguration of the main unit 2, the left controller 3 and the rightcontroller 4 will now be described.

FIG. 3 is a six-sided view showing an example of the main unit 2. Asshown in FIG. 3 , the main unit 2 includes a generally plate-shapedhousing 11. In at least one exemplary aspect, the primary surface (inother words, the front-side surface, i.e., the surface on which thedisplay 12 is provided) of the housing 11 has a generally rectangularshape. In at least one exemplary aspect, the housing 11 is assumed tohave a horizontally-elongated shape. That is, in at least one exemplaryaspect, the longitudinal direction of the primary surface of the housing11 (i.e., the x-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 ) is denoted as thehorizontal direction (also referred to as the left-right direction), thewidth direction of the primary surface (i.e., the y-axis direction shownin FIG. 1 ) is denoted as the vertical direction (also referred to asthe up-down direction), and the direction perpendicular to the primarysurface (i.e., the z-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 ) is denoted as thedepth direction (also referred to as the front-rear direction). The mainunit 2 may be used in a direction in which the main unit 2 is in alandscape position. The main unit 2 may also be used in a direction inwhich the main unit 2 is in a portrait position. In that case, thehousing 11 can be regarded as having a vertically-elongated shape.

Note that there is no particular limitation on the shape and the size ofthe housing 11. As an example, the housing 11 may be sized so that itcan be portable. The main unit 2 alone, or the combined device includingthe left controller 3 and the right controller 4 attached to the mainunit 2 may be a portable device. The main unit 2 or the combined devicemay be a hand-held device. The main unit 2 or the combined device may bea transportable device.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the main unit 2 includes the display 12 provided onthe primary surface of the housing 11. The display 12 displays an image(which may be a still image or a video image) obtained or produced bythe main unit 2. In at least one exemplary aspect, the display 12 isassumed to be a liquid crystal display device (LCD). Note however thatthe display 12 may be any type of a display device.

The main unit 2 includes a touch panel 13 on the screen of the display12. In at least one exemplary aspect, the touch panel 13 is of a type(e.g., the capacitive type) that enables a multi-touch input. Notehowever that there is no particular limitation on the type of the touchpanel 13, and the touch panel 13 may be of a type (e.g., the resistivetype) that enables a single-touch input, for example.

The main unit 2 includes a speaker (i.e., a speaker 88 shown in FIG. 6 )inside the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 3 , speaker holes 11 a and 11 bare formed in the primary surface of the housing 11. Then, output soundsfrom the speaker 88 are output respectively through these speaker holes11 a and 11 b.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the main unit 2 includes a left rail member 15 onthe left side surface of the housing 11. The left rail member 15 is amember that allows the left controller 3 to be detachably attached tothe main unit 2. The left rail member 15 is provided so as to extend inthe up-down direction on the left side surface of the housing 11. Theleft rail member 15 has such a shape that can engage with a slider ofthe left controller 3 (i.e., a slider 40 shown in FIG. 4 ), and the leftrail member 15 and the slider 40 together form a slide mechanism. Thisslide mechanism allows the left controller 3 to be slidably anddetachably attached to the main unit 2.

The main unit 2 includes a left-side terminal 17. The left-side terminal17 allows the main unit 2 to communicate with the left controller 3 inwired communication. The left-side terminal 17 is located so as to be incontact with the terminal of the left controller 3 (a terminal 42 shownin FIG. 4 ) when the left controller 3 is attached to the main unit 2.There is no particular limitation on the specific position of theleft-side terminal 17. In at least one exemplary aspect, as shown inFIG. 3 , the left-side terminal 17 is provided on the bottom surface ofthe left rail member 15. In at least one exemplary aspect, the left-sideterminal 17 is provided near the lower end on the bottom surface of theleft rail member 15, and is arranged at such a position that theleft-side terminal 17 is not exposed to the outside by virtue of a partof the left rail member 15.

As shown in FIG. 3 , similar elements to those provided on the left sidesurface of the housing 11 are provided on the right side surface of thehousing 11. That is, the main unit 2 includes a right rail member 19 onthe right side surface of the housing 11. The right rail member 19 isprovided so as to extend in the up-down direction on the right sidesurface of the housing 11. The right rail member 19 has such a shapethat it can engage with a slider of the right controller 4 (i.e., aslider 62 shown in FIG. 5 ), and the right rail member 19 and the slider62 together form a slide mechanism. This slide mechanism allows theright controller 4 to be slidably and detachably attached to the mainunit 2.

The main unit 2 includes a right-side terminal 21. The right-sideterminal 21 allows the main unit 2 to communicate with the rightcontroller 4 in wired communication. The right-side terminal 21 islocated so as to be in contact with the terminal of the right controller4 (a terminal 64 shown in FIG. 5 ) when the right controller 4 isattached to the main unit 2. There is no particular limitation on thespecific position of the right-side terminal 21. In at least oneexemplary aspect, as shown in FIG. 3 , the right-side terminal 21 isprovided on the bottom surface of the right rail member 19. In at leastone exemplary aspect, the right-side terminal 21 is provided near thelower end on the bottom surface of the right rail member 19, and isarranged at such a position that the right-side terminal 21 is notexposed to the outside by virtue of a part of the right rail member 19.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the main unit 2 includes a first slot 23. The firstslot 23 is provided on the upper side surface of the housing 11. Thefirst slot 23 is shaped so as to accommodate a storage medium of a firsttype. A storage medium of the first type is, for example, a dedicatedstorage medium (e.g., a dedicated memory card) for the informationprocessing system or other information processing devices of the sametype. The storage medium of the first type is used, for example, forstoring data used in the main unit 2 (e.g., application save data, etc.)and/or for storing programs to be executed on the main unit 2 (e.g.,application programs, etc.). The main unit 2 also includes a powerbutton 28. As shown in FIG. 3 , the power button 28 is provided on theupper side surface of the housing 11. The power button 28 is a buttonfor turning ON/OFF the power of the main unit 2.

The main unit 2 includes a sound input/output terminal (specifically, anearphone jack) 25. That is, the main unit 2 allows a microphone or anearphone to be attached to the sound input/output terminal 25. As shownin FIG. 3 , the sound input/output terminal 25 is provided on the upperside surface of the housing 11.

The main unit 2 includes sound volume buttons 26 a and 26 b. As shown inFIG. 3 , the sound volume buttons 26 a and 26 b are provided on theupper side surface of the housing 11. The sound volume buttons 26 a and26 b are buttons for giving instructions to adjust the volume of thesound output from the main unit 2. That is, the sound volume button 26 ais a button for giving an instruction to lower the sound volume, and thesound volume button 26 b is a button for giving an instruction to raisethe sound volume.

The housing 11 is provided with an air outlet hole 11 c. As shown inFIG. 3 , the air outlet hole 11 c is provided on the upper side surfaceof the housing 11. The air outlet hole 11 c is provided so as to radiate(in other words, discharge) the heat generated inside the housing 11 tothe outside of the housing 11. That is, the air outlet hole 11 c can besaid to be a heat-radiating hole.

The main unit 2 includes a lower terminal 27. The lower terminal 27 is aterminal for allowing the main unit 2 to communicate with the cradle. Asshown in FIG. 3 , the lower terminal 27 is provided on the lower sidesurface of the housing 11. The lower terminal 27 is connected to aterminal of the cradle when the main unit 2 is attached to the cradle.In at least one exemplary aspect, the lower terminal 27 is a USBconnector (more specifically, a female-side connector). Only the mainunit 2, with the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 detachedfrom the main unit 2, can be placed in the cradle. In an alternativeexample, the combined device, including the left controller 3 and theright controller 4 attached to the main unit 2, can be placed in thecradle. The cradle can communicate (either via wired communication orwireless communication) with a stationary monitor (e.g., a stationaryTV), which is an example of an external display device separate from themain unit 2. When the combined device or the main unit 2 alone is placedin the cradle, the information processing system can display the imageobtained or produced by the main unit 2 on a stationary monitor. In atleast one exemplary aspect, the cradle has a function of charging thecombined device or the main unit 2 alone. The cradle also has a functionas a hub device (specifically, a USB hub).

The main unit 2 also includes a second slot 24. In at least oneexemplary aspect, the second slot 24 is provided on the lower sidesurface of the housing 11. Note however that in other embodiments, thesecond slot 24 may be provided on the same surface as the first slot 23.The second slot 24 is shaped so as to accommodate a storage medium of asecond type, which is different from the first type. A storage medium ofthe second type may be, for example, a general-purpose storage medium.For example, the storage medium of the second type may be an SD card. Asis the storage medium of the first type, the storage medium of thesecond type is used for storing data used in the main unit 2 (e.g.,application save data, etc.) and/or for storing programs to be executedon the main unit 2 (e.g., application programs, etc.).

The housing 11 is provided with an air inlet hole 11 d. As shown in FIG.3 , the air inlet hole 11 d is provided on the lower side surface of thehousing 11. The air inlet hole 11 d is provided so as to take in (inother words, introduce) the air from the outside of the housing 11 tothe inside of the housing 11. In at least one exemplary aspect, the airinlet hole 11 d is provided on the surface opposite from the surfacewhere the air outlet hole 11 c is provided, thereby allowing forefficient discharge of the heat from inside the housing 11.

There is no particular limitation on the shape, the number and thearrangement of the various elements (specifically, the buttons, theslots, the terminals, etc.) provided on the housing 11 described above.For example, in other exemplary aspects, some of the power button 28 andthe slots 23 and 24 may be provided on another side surface or the rearsurface of the housing 11. In other exemplary aspects, some of theelements described above may be absent on the main unit 2.

FIG. 4 is a six-sided view showing an example of the left controller 3.As shown in FIG. 4 , the left controller 3 includes a housing 31. In atleast one exemplary aspect, the housing 31 is generally plate-shaped.The primary surface (in other words, the front-side surface, i.e., thesurface on the z-axis negative direction side shown in FIG. 1 ) of thehousing 31 has a generally rectangular shape. In at least one exemplaryaspect, the housing 31 has a vertically-elongated shape, i.e., a shapethat is elongated in the up-down direction (i.e., the y-axis directionshown in FIG. 1 ). Note that when detached from the main unit 2, theleft controller 3 may be held in a portrait position. The housing 31 isshaped and sized so that it can be held in one hand, particularly theleft hand, when held in a portrait position. The left controller 3 mayalso be held in a landscape position. The left controller 3 may be heldusing both hands when held in a landscape position. Note that there isno particular limitation on the shape of the housing 31, and the housing31 does not need to be generally plate-shaped in other exemplaryaspects. The housing 31 does not need to have a rectangular shape, butmay have a semi-circular shape, or the like, for example. The housing 31does not need to have a vertically-elongated shape.

The length of the housing 31 in the up-down direction is generally equalto the length of the housing 11 of the main unit 2 in the up-downdirection. The thickness of the housing 31 (i.e., the length thereof inthe front-rear direction; in other words, the length thereof in thez-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 ) is generally equal to the thicknessof the housing 11 of the main unit 2. Therefore, when the leftcontroller 3 is attached to the main unit 2 (see FIG. 1 ), a user canhold the main unit 2 and the left controller 3 as if they were anintegral unit.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the left-side corner portion of the primary surfaceof the housing 31 has a more rounded shape than the right-side cornerportion thereof. That is, the connecting portion between the upper sidesurface and the left side surface of the housing 31 and the connectingportion between the lower side surface and the left side surface of thehousing 31 are more rounded (in other words, round-cornered with agreater radius) than the connecting portion between the upper sidesurface and the right side surface and the connecting portion betweenthe lower side surface and the right side surface. Therefore, when theleft controller 3 is attached to the main unit 2 (see FIG. 1 ), the leftside of the combined device will have a rounded shape, making it easierfor a user to hold the device.

The left controller 3 includes an analog stick 32. As shown in FIG. 4 ,the analog stick 32 is provided on the primary surface of the housing31. The analog stick 32 is an example of a directional input sectionallowing a user to input a direction. The analog stick 32 includes astick member that can be tilted in any direction (i.e., 360° directionsincluding the upper, lower, left, right and diagonal directions)parallel to the primary surface of the housing 31. A user can tilt thestick member to make a direction input based on the tilt direction (anda magnitude input based on the tilt angle). Note that the directionalinput section may also be a cross-shaped key, a slide stick, or thelike. In at least one exemplary aspect, a user can also make an input bypressing down the stick member (in a direction vertical to the housing31). That is, the analog stick 32 is an input section that allows a userto make a direction input and a magnitude input based on the tiltdirection and the tilt amount, respectively, of the stick member, andalso to make a push input by pressing down the stick member.

The left controller 3 includes four operation buttons 33 to 36(specifically, a right direction button 33, a lower direction button 34,an upper direction button 35 and a left direction button 36). As shownin FIG. 4 , these four operation buttons 33 to 36 are provided below theanalog stick 32 on the primary surface of the housing 31. Note thatwhile four operation buttons are provided on the primary surface of theleft controller 3 in the present exemplary aspect, there is noparticular limitation on the number of operation buttons. Theseoperation buttons 33 to 36 are used to give instructions in accordancewith various programs executed on the main unit 2 (e.g., the OS programand application programs). Note that the operation buttons 33 to 36 canbe used to make directional inputs, and the operation buttons 33 to 36are therefore referred to as the right direction button 33, the lowerdirection button 34, the upper direction button 35 and the leftdirection button 36. Note however that the operation buttons 33 to 36may be used to give instructions other than directional inputs.

The left controller 3 also includes a record button 37. As shown in FIG.4 , the record button 37 is provided on the primary surface of thehousing 31, more specifically, in a lower right area of the primarysurface. The record button 37 is a button for giving an instruction tosave the image displayed on the display 12 of the main unit 2. Forexample, when a game image is displayed on the display 12, a user canpress the record button 37 to save the game image that is displayed atthe point in time when the button is pressed in a storage section of themain unit 2, for example.

The left controller 3 also includes a minus (−) button 47 that has theshape of the character “−”. As shown in FIG. 4 , the minus button 47 isprovided on the primary surface of the housing 31, more specifically, inan upper right area of the primary surface. The minus button 47 is usedto give instructions in accordance with various programs executed on themain unit 2 (e.g., the OS program and application programs). The minusbutton 47 is used, for example, as a select button (e.g., a button usedto move the selection through different selection items) in gameapplications.

When the left controller 3 is attached to the main unit 2, the operationsections provided on the primary surface of the left controller 3(specifically, the analog stick 32 and the buttons 33 to 37 and 47) areoperated with the thumb of the left hand, for example, of a user holdingthe combined device. When the left controller 3 is used detached fromthe main unit 2 and held in a landscape position using both hands, theoperation sections are operated with the left and right thumbs, forexample, of a user holding the left controller 3. Specifically, in sucha case, the analog stick 32 is operated by the thumb of the left hand ofthe user, and the operation buttons 33 to 36 are operated with the thumbof the right hand of the user.

The left controller 3 includes a first L button 38. The left controller3 also includes a ZL button 39. As are the operation buttons 33 to 36,these operation buttons 38 and 39 are used to give instructions inaccordance with various programs executed on the main unit 2. As shownin FIG. 4 , the first L button 38 is provided over a corner portionbetween the left side surface and the upper side surface of the housing31. The ZL button 39 is provided to extend over a corner portion betweenthe left side surface and the upper side surface of the housing 31(strictly speaking, between the left side surface and the upper sidesurface as seen from the front side of the housing 31) while extendinginto the reverse surface of the housing 31. That is, the ZL button 39 isprovided on the rear side (the z-axis positive direction side shown inFIG. 1 ) of the first L button 38. In at least one exemplary aspect,since the upper left corner portion of the housing 31 has a roundedshape, the first L button 38 and the ZL button 39 each have a roundedshape in conformity with the rounded shape of the upper left cornerportion of the housing 31. When the left controller 3 is attached to themain unit 2, the first L button 38 and the ZL button 39 will be placedover the upper left portion of the combined device.

The left controller 3 includes the slider 40 described above. As shownin FIG. 4 , the slider 40 is provided so as to extend in the up-downdirection on the right side surface of the housing 31. The slider 40 hassuch a shape that it can engage with the left rail member 15 (morespecifically, the groove of the left rail member 15) of the main unit 2.Therefore, the slider 40 in engagement with the left rail member 15 islocked so as not to come off in the direction perpendicular to thesliding direction (in other words, the direction in which the left railmember 15 extends).

The left controller 3 includes the terminal 42 for allowing the leftcontroller 3 to communicate with the main unit 2 in wired communication.The terminal 42 is located so as to be in contact with the left-sideterminal 17 of the main unit 2 (FIG. 3 ) when the left controller 3 isattached to the main unit 2. There is no particular limitation on thespecific position of the terminal 42. In at least one exemplary aspect,as shown in FIG. 4 , the terminal 42 is provided at such a position thatit is not exposed to the outside by virtue of the engaging surface ofthe slider 40. In at least one exemplary aspect, the terminal 42 isprovided near the lower end on the engaging surface of the slider 40.

The left controller 3 also includes a second L button 43 and a second Rbutton 44. As are the other operation buttons 33 to 36, these buttons 43and 44 are used to give instructions in accordance with various programsexecuted on the main unit 2. As shown in FIG. 4 , the second L button 43and the second R button 44 are provided on the engaging surface of theslider 40. The second L button 43 is provided on the engaging surface ofthe slider 40 above the center of the engaging surface with respect tothe up-down direction (the y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 ). Thesecond R button 44 is provided on the engaging surface of the slider 40below the center of the engaging surface with respect to the up-downdirection. The second L button 43 and the second R button 44 arearranged at such positions that they cannot be pressed down with theleft controller 3 attached to the main unit 2. That is, the second Lbutton 43 and the second R button 44 are buttons that are used when theleft controller 3 is detached from the main unit 2. For example, thesecond L button 43 is operated with the index finger or the middlefinger of the left hand of a user holding the left controller 3 detachedfrom the main unit 2 in a landscape position with the engaging surfaceof the slider 40 facing upward. For example, the second R button 44 isoperated with the index finger or the middle finger of the right hand ofa user holding the left controller 3 detached from the main unit 2 in alandscape position with the engaging surface of the slider 40 facingupward. When the left controller 3 is attached to the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200, the second L button 43 and the second Rbutton 44 can be operated by operating the operation portions providedon the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 with the index finger or themiddle finger of the left hand and the right hand of a user holding thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200.

The left controller 3 includes a pairing button 46. In at least oneexemplary aspect, the pairing button 46 is used to give an instructionfor a setting (referred to also as pairing) process regarding wirelesscommunication between the left controller 3 and the main unit 2, and togive an instruction for a resetting process of resetting the leftcontroller 3. Note that in other exemplary aspects, the pairing button46 may only serve to instruct one of the setting process and theresetting process. For example, when a short-press operation isperformed on the pairing button 46 (specifically, when the pairingbutton 46 is pressed down for a shorter period of time than apredetermined period of time), the left controller 3 executes thesetting process. When a long-press operation is performed on the pairingbutton 46 (specifically, when the pairing button 46 is held down for thepredetermined period of time or longer), the left controller 3 executesthe resetting process. In at least one exemplary aspect, the pairingbutton 46 is provided on the engaging surface of the slider 40 as shownin FIG. 4 . Thus, the pairing button 46 is arranged at such a positionthat the pairing button 46 cannot be seen when the left controller 3 isattached to the main unit 2. That is, the pairing button 46 is used whenthe left controller 3 is detached from the main unit 2.

In at least one exemplary aspect, the buttons provided on the engagingsurface of the slider 40 (specifically, the second L button 43, thesecond R button 44 and the pairing button 46) are provided so as not toprotrude past the engaging surface. That is, the upper surface (in otherwords, the surface to be pressed) of these buttons is arranged flushwith the engaging surface of the slider 40 or arranged at a positionsunken from the engaging surface. This allows the slider 40 to slidesmoothly against the left rail member 15 when the slider 40 is engagedwith the left rail member 15 of the main unit 2.

FIG. 5 is a six-sided view showing an example of the right controller 4.As shown in FIG. 5 , the right controller 4 includes a housing 51. In atleast one exemplary aspect, the housing 51 is generally plate-shaped.The primary surface (in other words, the front-side surface, i.e., thesurface on the z-axis negative direction side shown in FIG. 1 ) of thehousing 51 has a generally rectangular shape. In at least one exemplaryaspect, the housing 51 has a vertically-elongated shape, i.e., a shapethat is elongated in the up-down direction. When detached from the mainunit 2, the right controller 4 may be held in a portrait position. Thehousing 51 is shaped and sized so that it can be held in one hand,particularly the left hand, when held in a portrait position. The rightcontroller 4 may also be held in a landscape position. The rightcontroller 4 may be held using both hands when held in a landscapeposition.

As with the housing 31 of the left controller 3, the length of thehousing 51 of the right controller 4 in the up-down direction isgenerally equal to the length of the housing 11 of the main unit 2 inthe up-down direction, and the thickness thereof is generally equal tothe thickness of the housing 11 of the main unit 2. Therefore, when theright controller 4 is attached to the main unit 2 (see FIG. 1 ), a usercan hold the main unit 2 and the right controller 4 as if they were anintegral unit.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the right-side corner portion of the primarysurface of the housing 51 has a more rounded shape than the left-sidecorner portion thereof. That is, the connecting portion between theupper side surface and the right side surface of the housing 51 and theconnecting portion between the lower side surface and the right sidesurface of the housing 51 are more rounded (in other words,round-cornered with a greater radius) than the connecting portionbetween the upper side surface and the left side surface and theconnecting portion between the lower side surface and the left sidesurface. Therefore, when the right controller 4 is attached to the mainunit 2 (see FIG. 1 ), the right side of the combined device will have arounded shape, making it easier for a user to hold the device.

As does the left controller 3, the right controller 4 includes an analogstick 52 as the directional input section. In at least one exemplaryaspect, the analog stick 52 has the same configuration as the analogstick 32 of the left controller 3. As does the left controller 3, theright controller 4 includes four operation buttons 53 to 56(specifically, the A button 53, the B button 54, the X button 55 and theY button 56). In at least one exemplary aspect, these four operationbuttons 53 to 56 are of the same mechanism as the four operation buttons33 to 36 of the left controller 3. As shown in FIG. 5 , the analog stick52 and the operation buttons 53 to 56 are provided on the primarysurface of the housing 51. Note that while the number of operationbuttons provided on the primary surface of the right controller 4 isfour, there is no particular limitation on the number of operationbuttons.

In at least one exemplary aspect, the positional relationship betweenthe two types of operation sections (the analog stick and the operationbuttons) of the right controller 4 is opposite from the positionalrelationship between these two types of operation sections of the leftcontroller 3. That is, the analog stick 52 is arranged above theoperation buttons 53 to 56 on the right controller 4, whereas the analogstick 32 is arranged below the operation buttons 33 to 36 on the leftcontroller 3. With such an arrangement, the left controller 3 and theright controller 4, when detached from the main unit 2, can be operatedin a similar fashion.

The right controller 4 also includes a plus (+) button 57 that has theshape of the character “+”. As shown in FIG. 5 , the plus button 57 isprovided on the primary surface of the housing 51, more specifically, inan upper left area of the primary surface. As are the other operationbuttons 53 to 56, the plus button 57 is used to give instructions inaccordance with various programs executed on the main unit 2 (e.g., theOS program and application programs). The plus button 57 is used, forexample, as a start button in a game application (e.g., a button used togive an instruction to start the game).

The right controller 4 includes a home button 58. As shown in FIG. 5 ,the home button 58 is provided on the primary surface of the housing 51,more specifically, in a lower left area of the primary surface. The homebutton 58 is a button for displaying a predetermined menu screen on thedisplay 12 of the main unit 2. The menu screen is, for example, a screenwhere a user can launch an application specified by the user, from amonga plurality of applications that can be executed on the main unit 2. Themenu screen may be displayed at the start-up of the main unit 2, forexample. In at least one exemplary aspect, a predetermined controlscreen may be displayed on the display 12 (the menu screen may bedisplayed instead of the control screen) when the home button 58 ispressed while an application is executed on the main unit 2 (i.e., whilethe image of the application is displayed on the display 12). Note thatthe control screen is, for example, a screen where a user can give aninstruction to end an application and display the menu screen on thedisplay 12, and an instruction to resume an application, etc.

The operation sections provided on the primary surface of the rightcontroller 4 (specifically, the analog stick 52 and the buttons 53 to58) are operated with the thumb of the right hand, for example, of auser holding the combined device when the right controller 4 is attachedto the main unit 2. When the right controller 4 is used detached fromthe main unit 2 and held in a landscape position using both hands, theoperation sections are operated with the left and right thumbs, forexample, of a user holding the right controller 4. Specifically, in sucha case, the analog stick 52 is operated with the thumb of the left handof the user, and the operation buttons 53 to 56 are operated with thethumb of the right hand of the user.

The right controller 4 includes a first R button 60. The rightcontroller 4 includes a ZR button 61. As shown in FIG. 5 , the first Rbutton 60 is provided over a corner portion between the right sidesurface and the upper side surface of the housing 51. The ZR button 61is provided to extend over a corner portion between the right sidesurface and the upper side surface of the housing 51 (strictly speaking,between the right side surface and the upper side surface as seen fromthe front side of the housing 51) while extending into the reversesurface of the housing 51. That is, the ZR button 61 is provided on therear side (the z-axis positive direction side shown in FIG. 1 ) of thefirst R button 60. In at least one exemplary aspect, since the upperright corner portion of the housing 51 has a rounded shape, the first Rbutton 60 and the ZR button 61 each have a rounded shape in conformitywith the rounded shape of the upper right portion of the housing 51.When the right controller 4 is attached to the main unit 2, the first Rbutton 60 and the ZR button 61 will be placed over the upper rightportion of the combined device.

The right controller 4 includes a similar slider mechanism to that ofthe left controller 3. That is, the right controller 4 includes theslider 62 described above. As shown in FIG. 5 , the slider 62 isprovided so as to extend in the up-down direction on the left sidesurface of the housing 51. The slider 62 has such a shape that it canengage with the right rail member 19 (more specifically, the groove ofthe right rail member 19) of the main unit 2. Therefore, the slider 62in engagement with the right rail member 19 is locked so as not to comeoff in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction (in otherwords, the direction in which the right rail member 19 extends).

The right controller 4 includes the terminal 64 for allowing the rightcontroller 4 to communicate with the main unit 2 in wired communication.The terminal 64 is located so as to be in contact with the right-sideterminal 21 of the main unit 2 (FIG. 3 ) when the right controller 4 isattached to the main unit 2. There is no particular limitation on thespecific position of the terminal 64. In at least one exemplary aspect,as shown in FIG. 5 , the terminal 64 is provided at such a position thatit is not exposed to the outside by virtue of the engaging surface ofthe slider 62. In at least one exemplary aspect, the terminal 64 isprovided near the lower end on the engaging surface of the slider 62.

As does the left controller 3, the right controller 4 also includes asecond L button 65 and a second R button 66. As are the operationbuttons 53 to 56, these buttons 65 and 66 are used to give instructionsin accordance with various programs executed on the main unit 2. Asshown in FIG. 5 , the second L button 65 and the second R button 66 areprovided on the engaging surface of the slider 62. The second L button65 is provided on the engaging surface of the slider 62 below the centerof the engaging surface with respect to the up-down direction (they-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 ). The second R button 66 is providedon the engaging surface of the slider 62 above the center of theengaging surface with respect to the up-down direction. As are thesecond L button 43 and the second R button 44 of the left controller 3,the second L button 65 and the second R button 66 are arranged at suchpositions that they cannot be pressed down with the right controller 4attached to the main unit 2, and they are buttons that are used when theright controller 4 is detached from the main unit 2. For example, thesecond L button 65 is operated with the index finger or the middlefinger of the left hand of a user holding the right controller 4detached from the main unit 2 in a landscape position with the engagingsurface of the slider 62 facing upward. For example, the second R button66 is operated with the index finger or the middle finger of the righthand of a user holding the right controller 4 detached from the mainunit 2 in a landscape position with the engaging surface of the slider62 facing upward. When the right controller 4 is attached to thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200, the second L button 65 and thesecond R button 66 can be operated by operating the operation portionsprovided on the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 with the indexfinger or the middle finger of the left hand and the right hand of auser holding the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200.

The right controller 4 includes a pairing button 69. As is the pairingbutton 46 of the left controller 3, the pairing button 69 is used togive an instruction for a setting (referred to also as “pairing”)process regarding wireless communication between the right controller 4and the main unit 2, and to give an instruction for a resetting processof resetting the right controller 4. The setting process and theresetting process are the same as those for the left controller 3, andwill not therefore be described in detail below. In at least oneexemplary aspect, the pairing button 69 is provided on the engagingsurface of the slider 62 as shown in FIG. 5 . That is, for the samereason for the pairing button 46 of the left controller 3, the pairingbutton 69 is arranged at such a position that the pairing button 69cannot be seen with the right controller 4 attached to the main unit 2.

With the right controller 4, as with the left controller 3, the buttonsprovided on the engaging surface of the slider 62 (specifically, thesecond L button 65, the second R button 66 and the pairing button 69)are provided so as not to protrude past the engaging surface. Thisallows the slider 62 to slide smoothly against the right rail member 19when the slider 62 is engaged with the right rail member 19 of the mainunit 2.

A window portion 68 is provided in the lower side surface of the housing51. The right controller 4 includes an infrared image-capturing section123 and an infrared light-emitting section 124 arranged inside thehousing 51. The infrared image-capturing section 123 captures an imagearound the right controller 4 through the window portion 68, wherein theimage-capturing direction is the downward direction of the rightcontroller 4 (the y-axis negative direction shown in FIG. 5 ). Theinfrared light-emitting section 124 irradiates a member whose image isto be captured by the infrared image-capturing section 123 with infraredlight through the window portion 68, wherein the range of irradiation isa predetermined range that is centered around the downward direction ofthe right controller 4 (the y-axis negative direction shown in FIG. 5 ).

The right controller 4 includes an NFC communication section 122. TheNFC communication section 122 implements near-field wirelesscommunication in accordance with the NFC (Near Field Communication)standard. The NFC communication section 122 includes an antenna 122 aused for the near-field wireless communication, and a circuit (e.g., anNFC chip) for generating a signal (radio wave) to be transmitted fromthe antenna 122 a. For example, the antenna 122 a is provided at such aposition inside the housing 51 that it is possible to communicate, inthe near-field wireless communication, with another wirelesscommunication device (e.g., an NFC tag), which is the target of thenear-field wireless communication, when the wireless communicationdevice is arranged in another device that is in the vicinity of, or incontact with, the area under the primary surface of the housing 51. Notethat the near-field wireless communication is not limited to those basedon the NFC standard, but may also be any proximity communication(referred to also as non-contact communication). The proximitycommunication for example includes communication schemes in which onedevice generates an electromotive force on the other device by radiowaves therefrom (e.g., through electromagnetic induction).

Note that for the left controller 3 and the right controller 4, there isno particular limitation on the shape, the number and the arrangement ofthe various elements (specifically, the slider, the stick, the buttons,etc.) provided on the housing 31 or 51. For example, in other exemplaryaspects, the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 may include adirectional input section of a different type from an analog stick. Theslider 40 or 62 may be arranged at a position that corresponds to theposition of the rail member 15 or 19 provided on the main unit 2, andmay be, for example, arranged on the primary surface or the reversesurface of the housing 31 or 51. In other exemplary aspects, one or moreof the various elements described above may be absent from the leftcontroller 3 and the right controller 4.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example internal configuration ofthe main unit 2. In addition to the elements shown in FIG. 3 , the mainunit 2 also includes elements 81 to 98 shown in FIG. 6 . Some of theseelements 81 to 98 may be mounted, as electronic components, on anelectronic circuit board and accommodated in the housing 11.

The main unit 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81. The CPU 81is an information processing section for executing various informationprocesses to be executed on the main unit 2. The CPU 81 executes variousinformation processes by executing an information processing program(e.g., a game program) stored in a storage section (specifically, aninternal storage medium such as a flash memory 84 or external storagemedia attached to the slots 23 and 24, etc.).

The main unit 2 includes, as an example internal storage medium providedin the main unit 2, the flash memory 84 and a DRAM (Dynamic RandomAccess Memory) 85. The flash memory 84 and the DRAM 85 are connected tothe CPU 81. The flash memory 84 is a memory used primarily for storingvarious data (which may be programs) saved on the main unit 2. The DRAM85 is a memory used for temporarily storing various data used ininformation processes.

The main unit 2 includes a first slot interface (hereinafter abbreviatedas “I/F”) 91. The main unit 2 also includes a second slot I/F 92. Thefirst slot I/F 91 and the second slot I/F 92 are connected to the CPU81. The first slot I/F 91 is connected to the first slot 23, and readsand writes data from and to a storage medium of the first type (e.g., anSD card) inserted in the first slot 23, in response to an instructionfrom the CPU 81. The second slot I/F 92 is connected to the second slot24, and reads and writes data from and to a storage medium of the secondtype (e.g., a dedicated memory card) inserted in the second slot 24, inresponse to an instruction from the CPU 81.

The CPU 81 executes the information processes described above by readingand writing data from and to the flash memory 84 and the DRAM 85 and thestorage media.

The main unit 2 includes a network communication section 82. The networkcommunication section 82 is connected to the CPU 81. The networkcommunication section 82 communicates (specifically, in wirelesscommunication) with an external device via a network. In at least oneexemplary aspect, the network communication section 82 communicates withan external device via connection with a wireless LAN based on a schemethat is in conformity with the Wi-Fi standard, which is the first modeof communication. Also, the network communication section 82communicates in wireless communication with other main units 2 of thesame kind based on a predetermined communication scheme (e.g.,communication based on a proprietary protocol or infraredcommunication), which is the second mode of communication. Note thatwith the wireless communication in the second mode of communicationdescribed above, it is possible to communicate in wireless communicationwith other main units 2 placed within a closed local network area, thusimplementing the function of enabling so-called “local communication”,in which data is exchanged via direct communication between a pluralityof main units 2.

The main unit 2 includes a controller communication section 83. Thecontroller communication section 83 is connected to the CPU 81. Thecontroller communication section 83 communicates with the leftcontroller 3 and/or the right controller 4 in wireless communication.While there is no particular limitation on the communication schemebetween the main unit 2 and the left controller 3 and the rightcontroller 4, the controller communication section 83 may communicatewith the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 in accordance withthe Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.

The CPU 81 is connected to the left-side terminal 17, the right-sideterminal 21 and the lower terminal 27 described above. Whencommunicating with the left controller 3 in wired communication, the CPU81 transmits data to the left controller 3 via the left-side terminal 17and receives operation data from the left controller 3 via the left-sideterminal 17. When communicating with the right controller 4 in wiredcommunication, the CPU 81 transmits data to the right controller 4 viathe right-side terminal 21 and receives operation data from the rightcontroller 4 via the right-side terminal 21. When communicating with thecradle, the CPU 81 transmits data to the cradle via the lower terminal27. Thus in at least one exemplary aspect, the main unit 2 is capable ofcommunicating with the left controller 3 and the right controller 4either in wired communication or in wireless communication. When thecombined device including the left controller 3 and the right controller4 attached to the main unit 2, or the main unit 2 alone, is attached tothe cradle, the main unit 2 can output data (e.g., image data and sounddata) to a stationary monitor, or the like, via the cradle.

The main unit 2 can communicate with a plurality of left controllers 3simultaneously (in other words, in parallel). The main unit 2 cancommunicate with a plurality of right controllers 4 simultaneously (inother words, in parallel). Therefore, users can make inputs to the mainunit 2 by using a plurality of left controllers 3 and a plurality ofright controllers 4.

The main unit 2 includes a touch panel controller 86, which is a circuitfor controlling the touch panel 13. The touch panel controller 86 isconnected between the touch panel 13 and the CPU 81. Based on a signalfrom the touch panel 13, for example, the touch panel controller 86generates data representing the position at which the touch input hasbeen performed, and outputs the data to the CPU 81.

The display 12 is connected to the CPU 81. The CPU 81 displays imagesgenerated and/or images obtained from outside on the display 12 (e.g.,by executing the information processes described above).

The main unit 2 includes a codec circuit 87 and a speaker (specifically,a left speaker and a right speaker) 88. The codec circuit 87 isconnected to the speaker 88 and the sound input/output terminal 25, andis also connected to the CPU 81. The codec circuit 87 is a circuit forcontrolling the input/output of sound data to/from the speaker 88 andthe sound input/output terminal 25. That is, when sound data is receivedfrom the CPU 81, the codec circuit 87 outputs, to the speaker 88 or thesound input/output terminal 25, a sound signal obtained by performing aD/A conversion on the sound data. Thus, a sound is output from thespeaker 88 or a sound output section (e.g., an earphone) connected tothe sound input/output terminal 25. When a sound signal is received fromthe sound input/output terminal 25, the codec circuit 87 performs an A/Dconversion on the sound signal and outputs sound data of a predeterminedformat to the CPU 81. The sound volume button 26 is connected to the CPU81. The CPU 81 controls the sound volume of the output from the speaker88 or the sound output section based on an input on the sound volumebutton 26.

The main unit 2 includes a power control section 97 and a battery 98.The power control section 97 is connected to the battery 98 and the CPU81. Although not shown in the figure, the power control section 97 isconnected to various sections of the main unit 2 (specifically, varioussections receiving power supply from the battery 98, the left-sideterminal 17 and the right-side terminal 21). The power control section97 controls the power supply from the battery 98 to the various sectionsbased on an instruction from the CPU 81. The power control section 97 isconnected to the power button 28. The power control section 97 controlsthe power supply to the various sections based on an input on the powerbutton 28. That is, when the power-OFF operation is performed on thepower button 28, the power control section 97 stops the power supply tosome or all of the various sections, and when the power-ON operation isperformed on the power button 28, the power control section 97 startsthe power supply to some or all of the various sections. The powercontrol section 97 also outputs, to the CPU 81, information representingthe input on the power button 28 (specifically, information indicatingwhether or not the power button 28 is being pressed).

The battery 98 is connected to the lower terminal 27. Where an externalcharging device (e.g., the cradle) is connected to the lower terminal27, and power is supplied to the main unit 2 via the lower terminal 27,the battery 98 is charged with the power supplied thereto.

The main unit 2 includes a cooling fan 96 for radiating heat from insidethe main unit 2. With the cooling fan 96 in operation, the air outsidethe housing 11 is introduced into the housing 11 through the air inlethole 11 d and the air inside the housing 11 is discharged through theair outlet hole 11 c, thereby discharging heat from inside the housing11. The cooling fan 96 is connected to the CPU 81, and the operation ofthe cooling fan 96 is controlled by the CPU 81. The main unit 2 includesa temperature sensor 95 for detecting the temperature inside the mainunit 2. The temperature sensor 95 is connected to the CPU 81, and thedetection results of the temperature sensor 95 are output to the CPU 81.The CPU 81 controls the operation of the cooling fan 96 based on thedetection results of the temperature sensor 95.

FIG. 7 a block diagram showing an example internal configuration themain unit 2, the left controller 3 and the right controller 4. Note thatthe details of the internal configuration that are related to the mainunit 2 are shown in FIG. 6 , and are therefore not shown in FIG. 7 .

The left controller 3 includes a communication control section 101 forcommunicating with the main unit 2. As shown in FIG. 7 , thecommunication control section 101 is connected to various elementsincluding the terminal 42. In at least one exemplary aspect, thecommunication control section 101 is capable of communicating with themain unit 2 both in wired communication via the terminal 42 and inwireless communication without using the terminal 42. The communicationcontrol section 101 controls the communication method used by the leftcontroller 3 for communicating with the main unit 2. That is, when theleft controller 3 is attached to the main unit 2, the communicationcontrol section 101 communicates with the main unit 2 via the terminal42. When the left controller 3 is detached from the main unit 2, thecommunication control section 101 communicates with the main unit 2(specifically, with the controller communication section 83) in wirelesscommunication. The wireless communication between the controllercommunication section 83 and the communication control section 101 is inaccordance with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, forexample.

The left controller 3 includes a memory 102 such as a flash memory, forexample. The communication control section 101 is a microcomputer(referred to also as a microprocessor), for example, and executesvarious processes by executing firmware stored in the memory 102.

The left controller 3 includes the buttons 103 (specifically, thebuttons 33 to 39, 43, 44 and 46). The left controller 3 includes theanalog stick (labeled “stick” in FIG. 7 ) 32. The buttons 103 and theanalog stick 32 repeatedly output, with appropriate timing, informationregarding operations performed thereon to the communication controlsection 101.

The left controller 3 includes an acceleration sensor 104. In at leastone exemplary aspect, the acceleration sensor 104 detects the magnitudeof the linear acceleration along directions of threes predetermined axes(e.g., the xyz axes shown in FIG. 4 ). Note that the acceleration sensor104 may detect acceleration in one axis direction or two axisdirections. The left controller 3 includes an angular velocity sensor105. In at least one exemplary aspect, the angular velocity sensor 105detects the angular velocity about three predetermined axes (e.g., thexyz axes shown in FIG. 4 ). Note that the angular velocity sensor 105may detect the angular velocity about one axis or two axes. Theacceleration sensor 104 and the angular velocity sensor 105 are eachconnected to the communication control section 101. Then, the detectionresults of the acceleration sensor 104 and the angular velocity sensor105 are repeatedly output, with appropriate timing, to the communicationcontrol section 101.

The communication control section 101 obtains input-related information(specifically, information regarding operations or detection results ofsensors) from the input sections (specifically, the buttons 103, theanalog stick 32 and the sensors 104 and 105). The communication controlsection 101 transmits operation data including the obtained information(or information obtained by performing a predetermined process on theobtained information) to the main unit 2. Note that operation data istransmitted repeatedly once per a predetermined period of time. Notethat the interval at which the input-related information is transmittedto the main unit 2 may or may not be the same among different inputsections.

As the operation data is transmitted to the main unit 2, the main unit 2can obtain the input that has been performed on the left controller 3.That is, the main unit 2 can determine operations performed on thebuttons 103 and the analog stick 32 based on the operation data. Themain unit 2 can calculate information regarding movement and/or attitudeof the left controller 3 based on the operation data (specifically, thedetection results of the acceleration sensor 104 and the angularvelocity sensor 105).

The left controller 3 includes a vibrator 107 for indications to theuser through vibration. In at least one exemplary aspect, the vibrator107 is controlled by an instruction from the main unit 2. That is, whenthe instruction is received from the main unit 2, the communicationcontrol section 101 drives the vibrator 107 in accordance with theinstruction. The left controller 3 includes an amplifier 106. When theinstruction is received, the communication control section 101 outputs acontrol signal in accordance with the instruction to the amplifier 106.The amplifier 106 amplifies the control signal from the communicationcontrol section 101 and generates a driving signal for driving thevibrator 107 to give the driving signal to the vibrator 107. Thisactuates the vibrator 107.

The left controller 3 includes a power supply section 108. In at leastone exemplary aspect, the power supply section 108 includes a batteryand a power control circuit. Although not shown in the figure, the powercontrol circuit is connected to the battery and is connected to thevarious sections of the left controller 3 (specifically, varioussections receiving power supply from the battery). The power controlcircuit controls the power supply from the battery to the varioussections. The battery is also connected to the terminal 42. In at leastone exemplary aspect, when the left controller 3 is attached to the mainunit 2, the battery is charged with the power supply from the main unit2 via the terminal 42 under a predetermined condition.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the right controller 4 includes a communicationcontrol section 111 for communicating with the main unit 2. The rightcontroller 4 includes a memory 112 connected to the communicationcontrol section 111. The communication control section 111 is connectedto various element including the terminal 64. The communication controlsection 111 and the memory 112 have similar functions to thecommunication control section 101 and the memory 102 of the leftcontroller 3. Therefore, the communication control section 111 iscapable of communicating with the main unit 2 both in wiredcommunication via the terminal 64 and in wireless communication withoutusing the terminal 64 (specifically, communication in accordance withthe Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard), and controls thecommunication method by which the right controller 4 communicates withthe main unit 2.

The right controller 4 includes similar input sections (specifically,the buttons 113, the analog stick 52, an acceleration sensor 114 and anangular velocity sensor 115) to those of the left controller 3. Theseinput sections have similar functions and operate in a similar fashionto the input sections of the left controller 3.

The right controller 4 includes a vibrator 117 and an amplifier 116. Thevibrator 117 and the amplifier 116 operate in a similar fashion to thevibrator 107 and the amplifier 106 of the left controller 3. That is,the communication control section 111 actuates the vibrator 117 usingthe amplifier 116 in accordance with an instruction from the main unit2.

The right controller 4 includes a power supply section 118. The powersupply section 118 has a similar function and operates in a similarfashion to the power supply section 108 of the left controller 3. Thatis, the power supply section 118 controls the power supply to thevarious sections receiving power supply from the battery. When the rightcontroller 4 is attached to the main unit 2, the battery is charged withthe power supply from the main unit 2 via the terminal 64 under apredetermined condition.

The right controller 4 includes the NFC communication section 122, whichimplements near-field wireless communication in accordance with the NFCstandard. The NFC communication section 122 has the function of aso-called NFC reader/writer. The near-field wireless communication asused herein includes communication schemes in which one device (herein,the right controller 4) generates an electromotive force on the otherdevice (herein, a device in proximity to the antenna 122 a) by radiowaves therefrom (e.g., through electromagnetic induction). The otherdevice can operate on the generated electromotive force, and the otherdevice may or may not have a power source. The NFC communication section122 can communicate with a communication partner when the rightcontroller 4 (the antenna 122 a) and the communication partner come inproximity to each other (typically, when the distance between thedevices is ten-odd centimeters or less). The communication partner isany device capable of near-field wireless communication with the NFCcommunication section 122, and is for example an NFC tag or a storagemedium having the function of an NFC tag. Note however that thecommunication partner may be any other device that has an NFC cardemulation function.

The right controller 4 includes the infrared image-capturing section123. The infrared image-capturing section 123 includes an infraredcamera for capturing an image around the right controller 4. While theinfrared image-capturing section 123 may capture images using theambient light, the infrared image-capturing section 123 includes theinfrared light-emitting section 124 for outputting infrared light. Theinfrared light-emitting section 124 outputs infrared light insynchronism with the timing at which the infrared camera captures animage, for example.

The right controller 4 includes a processing section 121. The processingsection 121 is connected to the communication control section 111 andalso connected to the NFC communication section 122. The processingsection 121 executes a management process for the NFC communicationsection 122 in response to an instruction from the main unit 2. Forexample, the processing section 121 controls the action of the NFCcommunication section 122 in response to an instruction from the mainunit 2. The processing section 121 also controls the activation of theNFC communication section 122, and controls the action (specifically,reading and writing, etc.) of the NFC communication section 122 on acommunication partner (e.g., an NFC tag). The processing section 121also receives information to be transmitted to the communication partnerfrom the main unit 2 via the communication control section 111 to passthis information to the NFC communication section 122, and obtains fromthe NFC communication section 122 information received from thecommunication partner to transmit this information to the main unit 2via the communication control section 111.

The processing section 121 includes a CPU, a memory, etc., and execute amanagement process for the infrared image-capturing section 123 inresponse to an instruction from the main unit 2 based on a predeterminedprogram (e.g., an application program for performing image processes andvarious arithmetic operations) stored in a storage device provided inthe right controller 4 (e.g., a non-volatile memory or a hard disk) notshown in the figures. For example, the processing section 121 causes theinfrared image-capturing section 123 to perform an image-capturingoperation, and obtains and/or calculates information based on theimage-capturing result (e.g., information of the captured image orinformation calculated from such information, etc.) to transmit thisinformation to the main unit 2 via the communication control section111. Moreover, the processing section 121 executes a management processfor the infrared light-emitting section 124 in response to aninstruction from the main unit 2.

Referring next to FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 , the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200, which is an example of the accessory device, will bedescribed. Note that FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example ofthe external appearance of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200.FIG. 9 is a six-sided view showing an example of the external appearanceof the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200. Note that in FIG. 9 , (a)is a front view of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200, (b) is atop view of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200, (c) is a rightside view of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200, (d) is a bottomview of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200, (e) is a left sideview of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200, and (f) is a rear viewof the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200. FIG. 10 is across-sectional view showing an example configuration of the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 as seen from section A-A. FIG. 11 is across-sectional view showing an example configuration of the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 as seen from section B-B.

In FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 , the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 at leastincludes a grip portion 201, a movable portion 202 and a biasing portion203.

The grip portion 201 includes a steering wheel-shaped rim portion(referred to also as a steering portion or a wheel portion) shaped sothat the circumferential edge thereof is generally circular. In theexample shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 , the grip portion 201 is providedwith a ring-shaped rim portion. Note that the shape of the rim portiondoes not need to be a ring shape, but may be any shape that can be heldand steered by a user, such as a shape obtained by cutting off a part ofa ring shape, a shape obtained by deforming a part of a ring shape, anelliptical shape, drop handle shape, a shape with a plurality ofprojections along the outer circumference, etc. The cross-sectionalshape of the rim portion does not need to be a circular shape, but maybe any other shape such as an elliptical shape, an oval shape, apolygonal shape, a rounded polygonal shape, a deformed circular shape,etc. The grip portion 201 includes a compartment 201 a having a recessedshape formed around the center of the rim portion (e.g., around thecenter of the generally circular shape). The compartment 201 a is formedin a recessed shape that can engage with the left controller 3 or theright controller 4 being in a horizontal position, and a plurality ofbiasing portions 203 (three biasing portions 203 a, 203 b and 203 c inat least one exemplary aspect,) are provided on the upper and lowerwalls of the recessed shape. A pair of movable portions 202 are providedon the upper wall of the recessed shape of the compartment 201 a.

The grip portion 201 is formed by attaching together a front portion 201f to be the front surface-side portion in which the compartment 201 a isto be formed, and a rear portion 201 r to be the rear surface-sideportion (a portion where the operation portions 202Le and 202Re of themovable portion 202 to be described later are provided). As is clearfrom FIG. 11 , etc., the seam between the front portion 201 f and therear portion 201 r on the outer side of the rim portion is generally atthe center between the front side and the rear side, whereas the seam onthe inner side of the rim portion is offset toward the front side withrespect to the center between the front side and the rear side. Byforming the seam between the front portion 201 f and the rear portion201 r as described above, a user holding the rim portion is unlikely totouch the seam on the inner side of the rim portion, thus improving thefeel during use. Note that the front side of the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200, on which the compartment 201 a is formed, is the frontside for a user operating the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200,whereas the rear side, on which the operation portions 202Le and 202Reof the movable portion 202 are provided, is the rear side as seen fromthe user. Therefore, in the description below, the surface of thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200 that faces toward a user when thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200 is held and operated by the usermay be referred to as the “front surface”, and a surface on the reverseside from the “front surface” as the “rear surface”. Note that from adifferent point of view, the side of the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200 on which the compartment 201 a is formed may be regardedas the “front surface”, and the side on which the operation portions202Le and 202Re of the movable portion 202 are provided as the “rearsurface”.

As shown in FIG. 10 , a pair of, left and right, dented portions 201 aLand 201 aR are formed on the bottom surface (the rear side surface) ofthe compartment 201 a of the grip portion 201. As will be clear from thedescription below, the dented portion 201 aL engages with the rearsurface protruding portion, which includes the ZL button 39, etc.,provided on the rear surface of the left controller 3, when the leftcontroller 3 is attached to the compartment 201 a. The dented portion201 aR engages with the rear surface protruding portion, which includesthe ZR button 61, etc., provided on the rear surface of the rightcontroller 4 when the right controller 4 is attached to the compartment201 a. Herein, the engagement between the rear surface protrudingportion and the dented portion 201 aL or 201 aR may be such that theyare not entirely in contact with each other or such that they are not incontact with each other. A detachment cut-out 201 b is formed by cuttingout an arc-shaped portion at the center of the lower wall of thecompartment 201 a of the grip portion 201.

The movable portion 202 includes a pair of movable portions, i.e., aleft movable portion 202L and a right movable portion 202R. The leftmovable portion 202L includes the left operation portion 202Le, a leftprotruding portion 202Lw and a left shaft portion 202Lp (see FIG. 15 ).The left operation portion 202Le projects outward from the left side ofthe rear surface of the grip portion 201 so that it can be pressed inthe downward direction using the index finger or the middle finger, forexample, of the left hand of a user holding the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200. The left button depression portion 202Lw is provided soas to protrude from the left-side upper wall of the compartment 201 a ofthe grip portion 201, and can function also as the left protrudingportion. Herein, “to protrude” encompasses not only a configuration inwhich the portion protrudes from the left-side upper wall only when theportion is moved in response to a user operation but also aconfiguration in which the portion is protruding from the left-sideupper wall even before the user operation is performed and moves furtheraway from the left-side upper wall in response to the user operation.When the left operation portion 202Le is pressed, the left movableportion 202L pivots about the left shaft portion 202Lp so that the leftbutton depression portion 202Lw protrudes into the compartment 201 a.When the left operation portion 202Le is not pressed, the movableportion 202L is biased to pivot in the reverse direction about the leftshaft portion 202Lp, thereby retracting the left button depressionportion 202Lw out of the compartment 201 a. Note that the position wherethe left button depression portion 202Lw is provided in the compartment201 a will be described later.

The right movable portion 202R includes the right operation portion202Re, a right button depression portion 202Rw and a right shaft portion202Rp (see FIG. 15 to FIG. 17 ). The right operation portion 202Reprojects outward from the right side of the rear surface of the gripportion 201 so that it can be pressed in the downward direction usingthe index finger or the middle finger, for example, of the right hand ofa user holding the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200. The rightbutton depression portion 202Rw is provided so as to protrude from theright-side upper wall of the compartment 201 a of the grip portion 201,and can function also as the right protruding portion. Herein, “toprotrude” encompasses not only a configuration in which the portionprotrudes from the right-side upper wall only when the portion is movedin response to a user operation but also a configuration in which theportion is protruding from the right-side upper wall even before theuser operation is performed and moves further away from the right-sideupper wall in response to the user operation. When the right operationportion 202Re is pressed, the right movable portion 202R pivots aboutthe right shaft portion 202Rp so that the right button depressionportion 202Rw protrudes into the compartment 201 a. When the rightoperation portion 202Re is not pressed, the movable portion 202R isbiased to pivot in the reverse direction about the right shaft portion202Rp, thereby retracting the right button depression portion 202Rw outof the compartment 201 a. Note that the position where the right buttondepression portion 202Rw is provided in the compartment 201 a will bedescribed later.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the left operation portion 202Le of the leftmovable portion 202L, the right operation portion 202Re of the rightmovable portion 202R and the rear portion 201 r of the grip portion 201are arranged on the rear side of the rim portion of the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200. Of the three components arranged on therear side, the rear portion 201 r of the grip portion 201 is providedmost rearward of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200. Specifically,as shown in FIG. 9 , the rear portion 201 r further protrudes rearwardby the distance X from the rearmost end of the left operation portion202Le and the right operation portion 202Re. By arranging a portion ofthe grip portion 201 most rearward of the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200, as described above, this portion can serve as a guardportion for the movable portion 202. For example, when the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 is placed on a flat surface, or the like,with its rear surface facing down, the guard portion can reduce theunexpected shock or pressure to be applied to the movable portion 202from the flat surface.

The biasing portion 203 includes three biasing portions 203 a, 203 b and203 c, for example, which are each an elastic member (e.g., a rubbermember such as silicone rubber) for holding the left controller 3 or theright controller 4 attached to the compartment 201 a so that the leftcontroller 3 or the right controller 4 does not come off the compartment201 a. As shown in FIG. 9 , the biasing portion 203 a is fixed at thecenter of the upper wall of the compartment 201 a of the grip portion201, the biasing portion 203 a protruding downward from the upper wall.The biasing portion 203 b is fixed at a position on the left-side lowerwall of the compartment 201 a of the grip portion 201 that is directlybelow or on the outer side (left side) with respect to the left buttondepression portion 202Lw, the biasing portion 203 b protruding upwardfrom the lower wall. The biasing portion 203 c is fixed at a position onthe right-side lower wall of the compartment 201 a of the grip portion201 that is directly below or on the outer side (right side) withrespect to the right button depression portion 202Rw, the biasingportion 203 c protruding upward from the lower wall.

Note that the elastic member of the biasing portions 203 a, 203 b and203 c may be a spring member (a leaf spring, a coil spring, etc.) or afoamed member (sponge, etc.). The biasing portions 203 a, 203 b and 203c do not need to be an elastic member, and may be an adhesive tape witha low adhesiveness or a touch fastener, etc. The biasing portions 203 a,203 b and 203 c may be integral with the wall surface of the compartment201 a. The biasing portions 203 a, 203 b and 203 c do not need toprotrude from the wall surface of the compartment 201 a, but may be arecessed portion in the wall surface. For example, by engaging therecessed portion formed in the wall surface with the side surface of theleft controller 3 or the right controller 4, the left controller 3 orthe right controller 4 attached to the compartment 201 a can be held sothat it does not come off the compartment 201 a.

Referring next to FIG. 12 to FIG. 14 , the state in which the leftcontroller 3 or the right controller 4 is attached to the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 will be described. Note that FIG. 12illustrates an example state in which the left controller 3 or the rightcontroller 4 is to be attached to the steering wheel-shaped attachment200. FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example state in which the leftcontroller 3 is attached to the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200.FIG. 14 is a front view showing an example state in which the rightcontroller 4 is attached to the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200.

In FIG. 12 , both of the left controller 3 and the right controller 4can be removably attached to the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200,one at a time. For example, when the left controller 3 is attached tothe steering wheel-shaped attachment 200, the housing 31 of the leftcontroller 3 is engaged with the compartment 201 a so that the rightside surface of the left controller 3 to be attached to the main unit 2(the side surface on the x-axis negative direction side in FIG. 4 )faces the upper wall of the compartment 201 a of the grip portion 201and the rear surface of the left controller 3 (the rear surface on thez-axis positive direction side in FIG. 4 ) is in contact with the bottomsurface of the compartment 201 a. When the right controller 4 isattached to the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200, the housing 51 ofthe right controller 4 is engaged with the compartment 201 a so that theleft side surface of the right controller 4 to be attached to the mainunit 2 (the side surface on the x-axis positive direction side in FIG. 5) faces the upper wall of the compartment 201 a of the grip portion 201and the rear surface of the right controller 4 (the rear surface on thez-axis positive direction side in FIG. 5 ) is in contact with the bottomsurface of the compartment 201 a.

As shown in FIG. 13 , when the left controller 3 is attached to thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200, the left controller 3 is fittedinto the compartment 201 a so that the bottom surface of the compartment201 a of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 is in contact with therear surface of the left controller 3. In such a case, the dentedportion 201 aL formed in a left-side area of the bottom surface of thecompartment 201 a (see FIG. 10 ) is in engagement with the rear surfaceprotruding portion (see FIG. 4 ) including the ZL button 39, etc.,provided on the rear surface of the left controller 3. A portion of theright side surface (the side surface which is on the x-axis negativedirection side in FIG. 4 and which faces upward when attached to thecompartment 201 a) of the left controller 3 that is around the center ofthe right side surface is supported by the biasing portion 203 a. Aportion of the left side surface (the side surface which is on thex-axis positive direction side in FIG. 4 and which faces downward whenattached to the compartment 201 a) of the left controller 3 that isaround the position opposite from the second L button 43 is supported bythe biasing portion 203 b. A portion of the left side surface of theleft controller 3 that is around the position opposite from the second Rbutton 44 is supported by the biasing portion 203 c. As described above,when the left controller 3 is attached to the compartment 201 a, theopposite side surfaces (the side surfaces facing upward and downwardwhen attached to the compartment 201 a) of the left controller 3 aresupported by the three biasing portions 203 a, 203 b and 203 c.

The horizontal dimension of the compartment 201 a is greater than thelongitudinal dimension (the length in the y-axis direction in FIG. 4 )of the left controller 3 by the length S1. Therefore, the leftcontroller 3 can be attached to the compartment 201 a while being incontact with the left wall of the compartment 201 a, attached to thecompartment 201 a while being in contact with the right wall of thecompartment 201 a, or attached to the compartment 201 a while being notin contact with ether the left wall or the right wall of the compartment201 a. In at least one exemplary aspect, however, when the leftcontroller 3 is attached to the compartment 201 a, the housing 31 of theleft controller 3 is engaged with the compartment 201 a so that the markML provided on the grip portion 201 is aligned in the left-rightdirection with the minus button 47 of the left controller 3 and that theright side surface (the lower side surface on the y-axis negativedirection side in FIG. 4 ) of the left controller 3 is in contact withthe right wall of the compartment 201 a. As the left controller 3 ispositioned in the left-right direction in the compartment 201 a, asdescribed above, the second L button 43 is aligned in the left-rightdirection with the left button depression portion 202Lw of the leftmovable portion 202L, and the second R button 44 is aligned in theleft-right direction with the right button depression portion 202Rw ofthe right movable portion 202R. Therefore, when the left buttondepression portion 202Lw protrudes into the compartment 201 a, with theleft controller 3 having been attached to and positioned in thecompartment 201 a as described above, the left button depression portion202Lw presses the second L button 43. When the right button depressionportion 202Rw protrudes into the compartment 201 a, with the leftcontroller 3 having been attached to and positioned in the compartment201 a as described above, the right button depression portion 202Rwpresses the second R button 44. That is, by attaching the leftcontroller 3 to the compartment 201 a in alignment with the mark MLprovided on the grip portion 201, a user can easily recognize thedirection in which the left controller 3 is to be attached to thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200 and can know the precise positionof the left controller 3 in the compartment 201 a.

As described above, the biasing portion 203 b is provided at a positionthat is directly below or on the outer side with respect to the leftbutton depression portion 202Lw, and the biasing portion 203 c isprovided directly below or on the outer side with respect to the rightbutton depression portion 202Rw. That is, when the left buttondepression portion 202Lw protrudes into the compartment 201 a, therebypressing the second L button 43, a portion of the controller that isdirectly below or slightly on the left side of the second L button 43 issupported by the biasing portion 203 b, or portions of the controllerthat are on the opposite sides of, and below, the second L button 43 aresupported by the biasing portion 203 b and the biasing portion 203 c,thus allowing the second L button 43 to be pressed stably. When theright button depression portion 202Rw protrudes into the compartment 201a, thereby pressing the second R button 44, a portion of the controllerthat is directly below or slightly on the right side of the second Rbutton 44 is supported by the biasing portion 203 c, or portions of thecontroller that are on the opposite sides of, and below, the second Rbutton 44 are supported by the biasing portion 203 b and the biasingportion 203 c, thus allowing the second R button 44 to be pressedstably.

The width of the left button depression portion 202Lw in the front-reardirection (i.e., the direction from the front surface toward the rearsurface) is greater than the width of the second L button 43 in thatdirection (the z-axis direction shown in FIG. 4 ). The width of theright button depression portion 202Rw in the front-rear direction isgreater than the width of the second R button 44 in that direction.Then, even when the depth at which the left controller 3 is attached tothe compartment 201 a varies in the front-rear direction, such variationcan be absorbed by the relatively large width in the front-reardirection of the left button depression portion 202Lw and the rightbutton depression portion 202Rw, and the second L button 43 and thesecond R button 44 can therefore be pressed reliably by the left buttondepression portion 202Lw and the right button depression portion 202Rw.Moreover, it is possible to prevent a portion of the left buttondepression portion 202Lw or the right button depression portion 202Rwfrom contacting a portion of the slider 40 of the left controller 3around the second L button 43 and the second R button 44 and excessivelypressing the second L button 43 and the second R button 44, and it istherefore possible to prevent an excessive load from being applied tothe second L button 43 and the second R button 44.

As shown in FIG. 14 , when the right controller 4 is attached to thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200, the right controller 4 is fittedinto the compartment 201 a so that the bottom surface of the compartment201 a of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 is in contact with therear surface of the right controller 4. In such a case, the dentedportion 201 aR formed in a right-side area of the bottom surface of thecompartment 201 a (see FIG. 10 ) is in engagement with the rear surfaceprotruding portion (see FIG. 5 ) including the ZR button 61, etc.,provided on the rear surface of the right controller 4. A portion of theleft side surface (the side surface which is on the x-axis positivedirection side in FIG. 5 and which faces upward when attached to thecompartment 201 a) of the right controller 4 that is around the centerof the left side surface is supported by the biasing portion 203 a. Aportion of the right side surface (the side surface which is on thex-axis negative direction side in FIG. 5 and which faces downward whenattached to the compartment 201 a) of the right controller 4 that isaround the position opposite from the second L button 65 is supported bythe biasing portion 203 b. A portion of the right side surface of theright controller 4 that is around the position opposite from the secondR button 66 is supported by the biasing portion 203 c. As describedabove, when the right controller 4 is attached to the compartment 201 a,the opposite side surfaces (the side surfaces facing upward and downwardwhen attached to the compartment 201 a) of the right controller 4 aresupported by the three biasing portions 203 a, 203 b and 203 c.

The horizontal dimension of the compartment 201 a is greater than thelongitudinal dimension (the length in the y-axis direction in FIG. 5 )of the right controller 4 by the length S2. Therefore, the rightcontroller 4 can be attached to the compartment 201 a while being incontact with the left wall of the compartment 201 a, attached to thecompartment 201 a while being in contact with the right wall of thecompartment 201 a, or attached to the compartment 201 a while being notin contact with either the left wall or the right wall of thecompartment 201 a. In at least one exemplary aspect, however, when theright controller 4 is attached to the compartment 201 a, the housing 51of the right controller 4 is engaged with the compartment 201 a so thatthe mark MR provided on the grip portion 201 is aligned in theleft-right direction with the plus button 57 of the right controller 4and that the left side surface (the lower side surface on the y-axisnegative direction side in FIG. 5 ) of the right controller 4 is incontact with the left wall of the compartment 201 a. As the rightcontroller 4 is positioned in the left-right direction in thecompartment 201 a, as described above, the second L button 65 is alignedin the left-right direction with the left button depression portion202Lw of the left movable portion 202L, and the second R button 66 isaligned in the left-right direction with the right button depressionportion 202Rw of the right movable portion 202R. Therefore, when theleft button depression portion 202Lw protrudes into the compartment 201a, with the right controller 4 having been attached to and position inthe compartment 201 a as described above, the left button depressionportion 202Lw presses the second L button 65. When the right buttondepression portion 202Rw protrudes into the compartment 201 a, with theright controller 4 having been attached to and positioned in thecompartment 201 a as described above, the right button depressionportion 202Rw presses the second R button 66. That is, by attaching theright controller 4 to the compartment 201 a in alignment with the markMR provided on the grip portion 201, a user can easily recognize thedirection in which the right controller 4 is to be attached to thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200 and can know the precise positionof the right controller 4 in the compartment 201 a.

As described above, the biasing portion 203 b is provided at a positionthat is on the outer side (left side) of directly below the left buttondepression portion 202Lw, and the biasing portion 203 c is provided at aposition that is on the outer side (right side) of directly below theright button depression portion 202Rw. That is, when the left buttondepression portion 202Lw protrudes into the compartment 201 a, therebypressing the second L button 65, portions of the controller that are onthe opposite sides of, and below, the second L button 65 are supportedby the biasing portion 203 b and the biasing portion 203 c, thusallowing the second L button 65 to be pressed stably. When the rightbutton depression portion 202Rw protrudes into the compartment 201 a,thereby pressing the second R button 66, portions of the controller thatare on the opposite sides of, and below, the second R button 66 aresupported by the biasing portion 203 b and the biasing portion 203 c,thus allowing the second R button 66 to be pressed stably.

Note that as described above, the biasing portion 203 b may be providedat a position directly below the left button depression portion 202Lw,and the biasing portion 203 c may be provided at a position directlybelow the right button depression portion 202Rw. That is, when the leftbutton depression portion 202Lw protrudes into the compartment 201 a,thereby pressing the second L button 65, a portion of the controllerthat is directly below the second L button 65 is supported by thebiasing portion 203 b, thus also allowing the second L button 65 to bepressed stably. When the right button depression portion 202Rw protrudesinto the compartment 201 a, thereby pressing the second R button 66, aportion of the controller that is directly below the second R button 66is supported by the biasing portion 203 b, thus also allowing the secondR button 66 to be pressed stably.

The width of the left button depression portion 202Lw in the front-reardirection (i.e., the direction from the front surface toward the rearsurface) is greater than the width of the second L button 65 in thatdirection (the z-axis direction shown in FIG. 4 ). The width of theright button depression portion 202Rw in the front-rear direction isgreater than the width of the second R button 66 in that direction.Then, even when the depth at which the right controller 4 is attached tothe compartment 201 a varies in the front-rear direction, such variationcan be absorbed by the relatively large width in the front-reardirection of the left button depression portion 202Lw and the rightbutton depression portion 202Rw, and the second L button 65 and thesecond R button 66 can therefore be pressed reliably by the left buttondepression portion 202Lw and the right button depression portion 202Rw.Moreover, it is possible to prevent a portion of the left buttondepression portion 202Lw or the right button depression portion 202Rwfrom contacting a portion of the slider 40 of the left controller 3around the second L button 65 and the second R button 66 and excessivelypressing the second L button 65 and the second R button 66, and it istherefore possible to prevent an excessive load from being applied tothe second L button 65 and the second R button 66.

As is clear from FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 , the length T1 from the left sidesurface (i.e., the upper side surface on the y-axis positive directionside in FIG. 4 ) of the left controller 3 attached to the compartment201 a to the second L button 43 is different from the length T3 from theleft side surface (i.e., the lower side surface in the y-axis negativedirection side in FIG. 5 ) of the right controller 4 attached to thecompartment 201 a to the second L button 65. Therefore, when the leftcontroller 3 and the right controller 4 are attached to the sameposition in the compartment 201 a, the position of the second L button43 in the compartment 201 a is different from the position of the secondL button 65 in the compartment 201 a, making it no longer possible topress the second L button 43 and the second L button 65 using a singleleft button depression portion 202Lw. However, when the left controller3 and the right controller 4 are offset from each other by the length Siin the left-right direction in the compartment 201 a, the position ofthe second L button 43 in the compartment 201 a will be the same as theposition of the second L button 65 in the compartment 201 a, making itpossible to press the second L button 43 and the second L button 65using a single left button depression portion 202Lw. That is, thedifference S1 between the horizontal dimension (the length in the y-axisdirection in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 ) of the compartment 201 a and thelongitudinal dimension of the left controller 3 and the right controller4 may be set to be the difference between the length T3 and the lengthT1.

Also, the length T2 from the right side surface (i.e., the lower sidesurface in the y-axis negative direction side in FIG. 4 ) of the leftcontroller 3 attached to the compartment 201 a to the second R button 44is different from the length T4 from the right side surface (i.e., theupper side surface on the y-axis positive direction side in FIG. 5 ) ofthe right controller 4 attached to the compartment 201 a to the second Rbutton 66. Therefore, when the left controller 3 and the rightcontroller 4 are attached to the same position in the compartment 201 a,the position of the second R button 44 in the compartment 201 a isdifferent from the position of the second R button 66 in the compartment201 a, making it no longer possible to press the second R button 44 andthe second R button 66 using a single right button depression portion202Rw. However, when the left controller 3 and the right controller 4are offset from each other by the length S1 in the left-right directionin the compartment 201 a, the position of the second R button 44 in thecompartment 201 a will be the same as the position of the second Lbutton 65 in the compartment 201 a, making it possible to press thesecond R button 44 and the second R button 66 using a single rightbutton depression portion 202Rw. That is, as the length T1 and thelength T4 are equal to each other and the length T2 and the length T3are equal to each other, it is possible to press the second R button 44and press the second R button 66 using a single right button depressionportion 202Rw because of the difference S1 the horizontal dimension (thelength in the y-axis direction in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 ) of the compartment201 a and the longitudinal dimension of the left controller 3 and theright controller 4.

The detachment cut-out 201 b formed in the lower wall of the compartment201 a is used when detaching the left controller 3 or the rightcontroller 4 from the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200. As describedabove, the detachment cut-out 201 b is formed by cutting out anarc-shaped portion at the center of the lower wall of the compartment201 a. By virtue of the detachment cut-out 201 b, a portion of the sidesurface facing downward (the side surface of the left controller 3 inthe x-axis positive direction side in FIG. 4 or the side surface of theright controller 4 on the x-axis negative direction side in FIG. 5 ) ofthe left controller 3 or the right controller 4 attached to the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 is exposed to the outside of the compartment201 a. Therefore, a user can easily detach the left controller 3 or theright controller 4 from the compartment 201 a by pulling off thecontroller toward the user with a finger or fingers on the side surfaceof the left controller 3 or the right controller 4 exposed through thedetachment cut-out 201 b while the entirety of the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200 is secured. Note that the detachment cut-out 201 b may beformed in a wall different from the lower wall of the compartment 201 aor a plurality of detachment cut-outs may be formed in the lower walland/or in other walls of the compartment 201 a.

Referring next to FIG. 15 to FIG. 17 , the operation and the structureof the movable portion 202 will be described. Note that FIG. 15 is aninternal structure diagram showing an example of the operation of theleft movable portion 202L and the right movable portion 202R in thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200. FIG. 16 is a perspective viewshowing an example of the external appearance of the right movableportion 202R. FIG. 17 is a three-sided view showing an example of theexternal appearance of the right movable portion 202R.

In FIG. 15 , the left movable portion 202L is provided on the rearportion 201 r of the grip portion 201 so that the left movable portion202L can pivot about the left shaft portion 202Lp. Then, when the leftoperation portion 202Le is pressed in the downward direction, the leftmovable portion 202L pivots counterclockwise about the left shaftportion 202Lp, thereby also pivoting the left button depression portion202Lw in the downward direction. The left movable portion 202L is biasedby a spring 204L in the reverse direction (i.e., clockwise) from thedirection in which it pivots when it is pressed, and when the leftoperation portion 202Le is not pressed, the left operation portion 202Leis supported in a predetermined operation stand-by position (e.g., aposition at which the left operation portion 202Le lies in a generallyhorizontal direction). Note that the example shown in FIG. 15 shows astate in which the left movable portion 202L is in the stand-byposition.

In FIG. 15 , the right movable portion 202R is provided on the rearportion 201 r of the grip portion 201 so that the right movable portion202R can pivot about the right shaft portion 202Rp. Then, when the rightoperation portion 202Re is pressed in the downward direction, the rightmovable portion 202R pivots clockwise about the right shaft portion202Rp, thereby also pivoting the right button depression portion 202Rwin the downward direction. The right movable portion 202R is biased by aspring 204R in the reverse direction (i.e., counterclockwise) from thedirection that it pivots when it is pressed, and when the rightoperation portion 202Re is not pressed, the right operation portion202Re is in a predetermined operation stand-by position (e.g., aposition at which the right operation portion 202Re lies in a generallyhorizontal direction). Note that the example shown in FIG. 15 shows astate in which the right movable portion 202R is being pressed, therebycausing the right button depression portion 202Rw to protrude into thecompartment 201 a.

For example, the shape of the left movable portion 202L and the shape ofthe right movable portion 202R are in left-right symmetry. In thefollowing description, the structure of the movable portion 202 will bedescribed using the right movable portion 202R as a representativeexample.

In FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 , the right movable portion 202R generallyincludes the right operation portion 202Re, the right button depressionportion 202Rw, an arm portion 202Ra and the right shaft portion 202Rp,which are molded as an integral unit, for example. The right shaftportion 202Rp is pivotally supported on the grip portion 201 so that theaxial direction is in the front-rear direction. Then, the rightoperation portion 202Re and the right button depression portion 202Rware both provided on the right side of the right shaft portion 202Rp,and are secured on the right shaft portion 202Rp via the arm portion202Ra, which connects the right shaft portion 202Rp and the rightoperation portion 202Re. The distance from the right operation portion202Re to the right shaft portion 202Rp in a direction perpendicular tothe axial direction (the length of the arm portion 202Ra of the rightoperation portion 202Re) is greater than the distance from the rightbutton depression portion 202Rw to the right shaft portion 202Rp in adirection perpendicular to the axial direction (the length of the armportion 202Ra of the right button depression portion 202Rw). Therefore,when the right operation portion 202Re is pressed, the right buttondepression portion 202Rw pivots in the same direction. The amount ofmovement by which the right button depression portion 202Rw movesthrough the pivoting is smaller than the amount of movement by which theright operation portion 202Re moves. The amount of movement as usedherein is the amount by which the right button depression portion 202Rwor the right operation portion 202Re moves through the pivoting,representing the length of the arc traced when the right movable portion202R pivots about the right shaft portion 202Rp.

Thus, the right movable portion 202R functions as a lever of which thefulcrum is the right shaft portion 202Rp, the point of effort is theright operation portion 202Re and the point of load is the right buttondepression portion 202Rw. Specifically, the right movable portion 202Rfunctions as a lever that moves about the fulcrum (the right shaftportion 202Rp), in which in response to a movement of the point ofeffort (the movement of the right operation portion 202Re in response toa press operation), the point of load moves (the right button depressionportion 202Rw protrudes) in the same direction as the point of effortover a distance that is shorter than the distance over which the pointof effort moves. Therefore, when the right operation portion 202Re ispressed, the second R button 44 or the second R button 66 will bepressed by the amount of movement smaller than the amount of movement ofthe press operation, thereby allowing a user to press an operationbutton of the left controller 3 or the right controller 4 with a smallforce, thus allowing a user to operate the operation button using asubtle touch.

As described above, the left movable portion 202L is in left-rightsymmetry with the right movable portion 202R. Therefore, the leftmovable portion 202L also functions as a lever of which the fulcrum isthe left shaft portion 202Lp, the point of effort is the left operationportion 202Le and the point of load is the left button depressionportion 202Lw. That is, the left movable portion 202L functions as alever that moves about the fulcrum (the left shaft portion 202Lp), inwhich in response to a movement of the point of effort (the movement ofthe left operation portion 202Le in response to a press operation), thepoint of load moves (the left button depression portion 202Lw protrudes)in the same direction as the point of effort over a distance that isshorter than the distance over which the point of effort moves.Therefore, when the left operation portion 202Le is pressed, the secondL button 43 or the second L button 65 will be pressed by the amount ofmovement smaller than the amount of movement of the press operation,thereby allowing a user to press an operation button of the leftcontroller 3 or the right controller 4 with a small force, thus allowinga user to operate the operation button using a subtle touch.

Note that the “amount of movement” as used above is a concept thatencompasses the amount of key stroke of the right operation portion202Re (and the right button depression portion 202Rw) and the leftoperation portion 202Le (and the left button depression portion 202Lw),the amount of key stroke by which the right button depression portion202Rw presses the second R button 44 or the second R button 66, and theamount of key stroke by which the left button depression portion 202Lwpresses the second L button 43 or the second L button 65.

Note that the arm portion 202Ra that connects the right shaft portion202Rp and the right operation portion 202Re and connects the right shaftportion 202Rp and the right button depression portion 202Rw may be asingle arm portion as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 , but there may beseparate arm portions. That is, if the separate arm portions share theright shaft portion 202Rp so that the right operation portion 202Re andthe right button depression portion 202Rw move in conjunction with eachother, the separate arm portions can be regarded as being a single armportion that connects the right operation portion 202Re and the rightbutton depression portion 202Rw. The right shaft portion 202Rp may beintegral with, or separate from, the right movable portion 202R, and thestructure may be such that an arm portion of the right operation portion202Re and an arm portion of the right button depression portion 202Rwpivot about the right shaft portion 202Rp, which is fixed.

The right button depression portion 202Rw includes a lower surface (or“actuation surface”) to be in contact with the second R button 44 or thesecond R button 66, and the lower surface has an edge or edges thereofchamfered. Specifically, a curved surface of a predetermined curvatureis formed along the edge or edges. The curvature R1 of the curvedsurface of one edge of the lower surface that is closest to the rightshaft portion 202Rp is greater than the curvature R2 of the curvedsurface of another edge that is farthest away from the right shaftportion 202Rp (e.g., R1=1.5R and R2=0.5R). By forming a larger roundedshape (a curved surface of the curvature R1) along an edge that isclosest to the right shaft portion 202Rp, it is more likely that theflat portion of the right button depression portion 202Rw first contactsthe second R button 44 or the second R button 66 when the right buttondepression portion 202Rw protrudes into the compartment 201 a, thuspreventing the edge from first contacting the second R button 44 or thesecond R button 66 and deteriorating the controllability. Also, byforming a larger rounded shape along an edge that is closest to theright shaft portion 202Rp, it is possible to reduce the excessive loadto be applied by the right button depression portion 202Rw to the secondR button 44 or the second R button 66.

Note that the chamfered shape of each edge of the lower surface of theright button depression portion 202Rw does not need to be a curvedsurface, but may be of any shape that is not right-angled. For example,the chamfer may be done by slantly cutting off the edge of the lowersurface of the right button depression portion 202Rw, or may be arounded chamfer composed of a plurality of curvatures. With anychamfered shape, the edge of the lower surface of the right buttondepression portion 202Rw that is closest to the right shaft portion202Rp is shaped with a greater amount of chamfer than the edge that isfarthest away from the right shaft portion 202Rp.

As described above, the left movable portion 202L has a shape that is inleft-right symmetry with the shape of the right movable portion 202R,and the structure of the movable portion 202 has been described aboveusing the right movable portion 202R as a representative example. Theedges of the lower surface of the left button depression portion 202Lware similarly chamfered to the right button depression portion 202Rw.That is, a curved surface of a predetermined curvature is formed alongeach edge of the lower surface of the left button depression portion202Lw to be in contact with the second L button 43 or the second Lbutton 65. As is the curvature R1 described above, the curvature R3 ofthe curved surface of one edge of the lower surface that is closest tothe left shaft portion 202Lp is greater than the curvature R4 of thecurved surface of another edge that is farthest away from the left shaftportion 202Lp (e.g., R3=1.5R and R4=0.5R). By forming a larger roundedshape (a curved surface of the curvature R3) along an edge that isclosest to the left shaft portion 202Lp, it is more likely that the flatportion of the left button depression portion 202Lw first contacts thesecond L button 43 or the second L button 65 when the left buttondepression portion 202Lw protrudes into the compartment 201 a, thuspreventing the edge from first contacting the second L button 43 or thesecond L button 65 and deteriorating the controllability. Also, byforming a larger rounded shape along an edge that is closest to the leftshaft portion 202Lp, it is possible to reduce the excessive load to beapplied by the left button depression portion 202Lw to the second Lbutton 43 or the second L button 65.

Note that the chamfered shape of each edge of the lower surface of theleft button depression portion 202Lw does not need to be a curvedsurface, but may be of any shape that is not right-angled. For example,the chamfer may be done by slantly cutting off the edge of the lowersurface of the left button depression portion 202Lw, or may be a roundedchamfer composed of a plurality of curvatures. With any chamfered shape,the edge of the lower surface of the left button depression portion202Lw that is closest to the left shaft portion 202Lp is shaped with agreater amount of chamfer than the edge that is farthest away from theleft shaft portion 202Lp.

As is clear from FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 , the right operation portion 202Reand the right button depression portion 202Rw of the right movableportion 202R are provided at different positions from each other alongthe axial direction of the right shaft portion 202Rp. For example, forthe direction from the front surface toward the rear surface of thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200, the frontmost portion of an areaof the right operation portion 202Re that can be contacted by a fingerof a user is located rearward of the rearmost portion of the actuationsurface of the right button depression portion 202Rw to be in contactwith the second R button 44 or the second R button 66. Specifically, theright button depression portion 202Rw is provided on the front surfaceof the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 and the right operationportion 202Re is provided on the rear surface of the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200, and the right operation portion 202Re andthe right button depression portion 202Rw are provided at positions thatdo not overlap with each other in the front-rear direction (in theexample of FIG. 17 , the frontmost portion of an area of the rightoperation portion 202Re that can be contacted by a finger of a user andthe rearmost portion of the actuation surface of the right buttondepression portion 202Rw to be in contact with the second R button 44 orthe second R button 66 are separated from each other by the distance Yin the front-rear direction). That is, the axial direction of the rightshaft portion 202Rp lies in the front-rear direction of the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200, and the right button depression portion202Rw is provided on the rear side of the right operation portion 202Re.Thus, with a lever structure in which the point of effort and the pointof load are provided at different positions in the axial direction,rather than providing the point of effort and the point of load alongthe same line in a direction perpendicular to the fulcrum axialdirection, it is possible to freely arrange the right operation portion202Re without being limited by the position of the left controller 3 orthe right controller 4 to be attached.

Note that while the right operation portion 202Re and the right buttondepression portion 202Rw are provided at different positions in theaxial direction of the right shaft portion 202Rp, as shown in FIG. 16and FIG. 17 , if the entirety of the right movable portion 202R isintegrally molded, for example, the right shaft portion 202Rp can beregarded as being provided on one side of one arm, with the operationportion 202Re and the right button depression portion 202Rw beingprovided on the other side of the arm.

Referring next to FIG. 18 , operations performed using the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 with the left controller 3 or the rightcontroller 4 attached thereto will be described. FIG. 18 shows anexample of how a user performs a game operation by holding the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 with the left controller 3 or the rightcontroller 4 attached thereto using both hands (i.e., the right hand andthe left hand). In at least one exemplary aspect, the main unit 2executes processes in response to operations performed with the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 based on data transmitted from the leftcontroller 3 or the right controller 4 attached to the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200.

For example, in at least one exemplary aspect, a user holds the rimportion of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 using both hands, asshown in FIG. 18 , to perform operations using the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200 by rotating the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 as awhole or by pressing the left operation portion 202Le or the rightoperation portion 202Re. In other exemplary aspects, a user can performoperations using the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 by moving thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200 as a whole in the up-downdirection, the left-right direction, the front-rear direction, etc.,changing the orientation of the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200, oroperating the operation sections of the left controller 3 or the rightcontroller 4 exposed on the front side of the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200.

In response to such operations using the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200, the main unit 2 performs an information process (e.g., agame process). As an example, in response to an operation using thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200, the main unit 2 causes a virtualobject displayed on a display screen (e.g., a display device to whichthe display 12 and the main unit 2 are connected) to perform an action,and displays, on the display screen, an image of a virtual space thatreflects the action of the virtual object. For example, the main unit 2changes the direction of movement of the virtual object in response torotating the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200, and changes the speedof movement of the virtual object in response to the pressing operationon the left operation portion 202Le or the right operation portion202Re.

The left controller 3 or the right controller 4 attached to the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 includes inertia sensors (the accelerationsensor 104 and the angular velocity sensor 105, or the accelerationsensor 114 and the angular velocity sensor 115), and data representingthe detection results from the inertia sensors can be wirelesslytransmitted from the left controller 3 or the right controller 4 to themain unit 2. Then, using the detection results of the inertia sensor,the main unit 2 can calculate the attitude and/or motion of the leftcontroller 3 or the right controller 4 (i.e., the attitude and/or motionof the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200). Thus the action of thevirtual object can be controlled based on the attitude and/or motion ofthe steering wheel-shaped attachment 200.

In response to the pressing operation on the left operation portion202Le, the second L button 43 or the second L button 65 is pressed, anddata from the pressing of the operation button can be wirelesslytransmitted from the left controller 3 or the right controller 4 to themain unit 2. Moreover, in response to the pressing operation of theright operation portion 202Re, the second R button 44 or the second Rbutton 66 is pressed, and data from the pressing of the operation buttoncan be wirelessly transmitted from the left controller 3 or the rightcontroller 4 to the main unit 2. Then, the main unit 2 can control theaction of the virtual object in response the pressing operation on theoperation button. Moreover, a user is allowed to operate various buttonsand an analog stick provided on the front surface of the left controller3 or the right controller 4 secured in the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200, and it is possible to control the action of the virtualobject in response to the operation.

Note that while the description above is directed to an example in whichthe movable portion 202 is provided on the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200, a movable portion capable of a different pivoting actionmay be provided thereon. Referring now to FIG. 19 to FIG. 21 , anexample of a steering wheel-shaped attachment provided with a movableportion capable of a different pivoting action will be described. Notethat FIG. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an examplestructure of a movable portion 302 provided on a steering wheel-shapedattachment. Note that FIG. 20 is a vertical cross-sectional view showingan example structure of a movable portion 303 provided on steeringwheel-shaped attachment. FIG. 21 is an internal structure diagramshowing an example structure of a movable portion 304 provided on asteering wheel-shaped attachment.

In FIG. 19 , the movable portion 302 is provided behind the controllerattached to the steering wheel-shaped attachment so that the movableportion 302 can pivot about the fulcrum provided on the back of thesteering wheel-shaped attachment. As shown in FIG. 19 , the axialdirection of the fulcrum of the movable portion 302 extends in theleft-right direction of the steering wheel-shaped attachment. Thefulcrum of the movable portion 302 is provided below and behind theoperation button of the controller to be pressed by the movable portion302. Then, the operation portion (point of effort) of the movableportion 302 and the protruding portion (point of load) thereof are eachprovided in front of the fulcrum, and the operation portion is providedbehind the protruding portion. Thus, when the operation portion of themovable portion 302 is pressed in the downward direction, the protrudingportion thereof pivots also in the downward direction about the fulcrum.The amount of movement by which the protruding portion moves through thepressing is greater than the amount of movement by which the operationportion moves by being pressed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce theamount of operation of pressing the operation button of the leftcontroller 3 or the right controller 4 attached to the steeringwheel-shaped attachment. Thus, the movable portion 302 functions as alever provided so as to extend in the front-rear direction on the backof the steering wheel-shaped attachment.

In FIG. 20 , the movable portion 303 is provided above the controllerattached to the steering wheel-shaped attachment so that the movableportion 303 can pivot about the fulcrum provided in front of thesteering wheel-shaped attachment. As shown in FIG. 20 , the axialdirection of the fulcrum of the movable portion 303 extends in theleft-right direction of the steering wheel-shaped attachment. Thefulcrum of the movable portion 303 is provided above and in front of theoperation button of the controller to be pressed by the movable portion303. Then, the operation portion (point of effort) of the movableportion 303 and the protruding portion (point of load) thereof areprovided behind the fulcrum at different positions along the same linein a direction perpendicular to the fulcrum axial direction, and theoperation portion is provided behind the protruding portion. Thus, whenthe operation portion of the movable portion 303 is pressed in thedownward direction, the protruding portion thereof pivots also in thedownward direction about the fulcrum. The amount of movement by whichthe protruding portion moves through the pressing is smaller than theamount of movement by which the operation portion moves by beingpressed. Thus, the movable portion 303 functions as a lever provided soas to extend in the front-rear direction in an upper portion of thesteering wheel-shaped attachment.

In FIG. 21 , the movable portion 304 is provided above the controllerattached to the steering wheel-shaped attachment so that the movableportion 304 can pivot about the fulcrum provided in an upper portion ofthe steering wheel-shaped attachment. As shown in FIG. 21 , the axialdirection of the fulcrum of the movable portion 304 extends in thefront-rear direction of the steering wheel-shaped attachment. Thefulcrum of the movable portion 304 is provided above and on the left ofthe operation button of the controller to be pressed by the movableportion 304. Then, the operation portion (point of effort) of themovable portion 304 and the protruding portion (point of load) thereofare both provided on the right of the fulcrum and directly above theoperation button of the controller to be pressed by the movable portion304, and the operation portion is provided directly above the protrudingportion. Thus, when the operation portion of the movable portion 304 ispressed in the downward direction, the protruding portion thereof, whichis provided directly below the operation portion, pivots also in thedownward direction about the fulcrum. The amount of movement by whichthe protruding portion moves through the pressing is equal to the amountof movement by which the operation portion moves by being pressed.Therefore, the operating force of pressing the operation portion isequal to the force by which the operation button of the left controller3 or the right controller 4 is pressed, and there is no leverage effect,allowing a user to operate the operation portion of the movable portion304 with the same feel of operation as that when pressing the operationbutton of the left controller 3 or the right controller 4 with noattachment attached thereto. As described above, the movable portion 304is provided directly above the steering wheel-shaped attachment andfunctions as an operation portion with no leverage effect.

Thus, in at least one exemplary aspect, both of the left controller 3and the right controller 4 can be attached to and detached from thesteering wheel-shaped attachment 200, which is an example accessorydevice, one at a time, and with one of the controllers attached thereto,processes can be performed in response to operations performed whileholding the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200. While operations canbe performed based on the attitude or motion of the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 itself, the steering wheel-shaped attachment200 includes a plurality of movable portions used to operate operationsections provided on the left controller 3 and the right controller 4.Therefore, a user can operate the plurality of movable portions providedon the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 while moving the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 as a whole, thereby realizing a variety ofoperations.

Note that the method for detecting the motion or attitude of the leftcontroller 3 and the right controller 4 attached to the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 as described above is merely an example, andsuch motion or attitude may be detected using methods or other data. Forexample, the motion or attitude may be calculated based only on theacceleration of the left controller 3 or the right controller 4, may becalculated based only on the angular velocity of the left controller 3or the right controller 4, or may be calculated based on the combinationof the angular velocity and the acceleration of the left controller 3 orthe right controller 4. It is understood that even when only theacceleration of the left controller 3 or the right controller 4 isdetected, it is possible to calculate the direction of the gravitationalacceleration of the left controller 3 or the right controller 4, and themotion or attitude can be calculated by successively calculating the x-,y- and z-axis directions based on the gravitational acceleration.

The main unit 2, the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 mayeach be any device, such as a portable game device or any other portableelectronic device (a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobiletelephone, a personal computer, a camera, a tablet, etc.). The devicewhich is attached to the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200 and whichtransmits operation data to the main unit 2 does not need to be a gamecontroller. For example, the device attached to the steeringwheel-shaped attachment 200 may be a remote controller device foroperating/controlling a remotely-located device through remote control,and a remote controller device that does not operate/control a gamedevice may be attached to the steering wheel-shaped attachment 200. Forexample, a remote controller device that operates/controls anotherdevice such as a monitor, a personal computer, a camera, a tablet, amobile telephone, other household appliances, an outdoor appliance, avehicle, etc., may be provided to be attachable to and detachable fromthe steering wheel-shaped attachment 200.

The image displayed on the main unit 2 is displayed as a game imageobtained by the CPU 81 executing an information process (a game process)in response to an operation performed using the steering wheel-shapedattachment 200. That is, although the image to be displayed on the mainunit 2 is produced by the CPU 81 of the main unit 2 performing aninformation process (e.g., a game process), at least a part of theprocess for producing the image may be performed by another device. Forexample, when the main unit 2 is capable of communicating with stillanother device (e.g., a server, another image display device, anothergame device, another portable terminal, or another informationprocessing device), the process may be executed in cooperation with theother device. Thus, a process similar to the process described above canbe performed with at least a part of the process being performed byanother device. The information process described above may be executedby one processor or a plurality of processors cooperating togetherincluded in an information processing system including at least oneinformation processing device. Although the CPU 81 of the main unit 2may execute a predetermined program for performing the informationprocess, a part or whole of the process described above may be performedby a dedicated circuit included in the main unit 2.

The variation described above, in at least one exemplary aspect, can beimplemented in a so-called “cloud computing” system or a distributedwide area network or local network system. For example, in a distributedlocal network system, the processes described above can be executed incooperation between a home-console information processing device (ahome-console game device) and a portable information processing device(a portable game device). Note that in these systems, it is understoodthat there is no particular limitation on the device or devices to beused for the processes described above, and that at least one exemplaryaspect can be implemented no matter how the processes are distributed.

The program may be loaded onto the main unit 2 via an external storagemedium such as an external memory, or may be loaded onto the main unit 2via a wired or wireless communication network. The program may bepre-recorded on a non-volatile storage device inside the main unit 2.Note that the information storage medium for storing the programdescribed above may be a CD-ROM, a DVD or other similar media, such asan optical disc storage medium, a flexible disc, a hard disk, amagneto-optical disc and a magnet tape, as well as a non-volatilememory. The information storage medium for storing the program describedabove may also be a volatile memory capable of storing the program. Anyof such storage media can be said to be a recording medium that can beread by a computer, or the like. For example, the program on such arecording medium may be loaded onto a computer, or the like, to beexecuted thereon, thereby realizing the various functions describedabove.

While some example systems, methods, devices and units have beendescribed above in detail, they are merely illustrative and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It is understoodthat various improvements and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and that thescope of the present disclosure should be construed based only on thescope of the appended claims. It is understood that from the descriptionof the exemplary aspects, those skilled in the art can determine therange of equivalence based on the description herein and the technicalknowledge. It should be understood that for any element written in asingular form preceded by a word such as “a” or “an”, as used herein, aplurality is not excluded for that element. It should also be understoodthat any term used herein is used in a sense in which the term isnormally used in the pertinent field of art, unless otherwise noted.Therefore, unless defined otherwise, any technical term used hereinshould be interpreted as it is commonly understood by those skilled inthe art to which the preceding description pertains. In case of anycontradiction, the present specification (including the definitionstherein) precedes.

As described above, an accessory device, or the like, may have animproved usability.

What is claimed is:
 1. An accessory device for use with a gamecontroller that includes a top surface, a bottom surface opposite to thetop surface, and a side wall surface that connects the top surface andthe bottom surface, the side wall surface including at least a rightbutton and a left button, the accessory device comprising: a compartmentconfigured to removably secure the game controller at least partlytherein, with the right button and the left button being positioned atleast partly within the compartment and the right button positioned tothe right of the left button; a right lever; and a left lever, whereinthe right lever includes: a right fulcrum; a right point of effortlocated to the right of the right fulcrum and configured to be contactedby one hand of the user holding the accessory device and pressed by theuser; and a right point of load located between the right fulcrum andthe right point of effort and configured to apply a pressing force tothe right button of the game controller at least partly received withinthe compartment by the right point of effort being pressed; the leftlever includes: a left fulcrum; a left point of effort located to theleft of the left fulcrum and configured to be contacted by the otherhand of the user holding the accessory device and pressed by the user;and a left point of load located between the left fulcrum and the leftpoint of effort and configured to apply a pressing force to the leftbutton of the game controller at least partly received within thecompartment by the left point of effort being pressed.
 2. The accessorydevice according to claim 1, wherein the right fulcrum and the leftfulcrum are located between the right point of load and the left pointof load in a left-right direction of the accessory device.
 3. Theaccessory device according to claim 1, wherein in a direction from afront surface to a back surface of the accessory device, the right pointof effort is located further on the back surface side than the rightpoint of load, and the left point of effort is located further on theback surface side than the left point of load.
 4. The accessory deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a right grip portion locatedto the right of the right point of effort so that the user can hold theaccessory device with one hand; and a left grip portion located to theleft of the left point of effort so that the user can hold the accessorydevice with the other hand.
 5. The accessory device according to claim1, wherein the accessory device has a steering wheel shape, theaccessory device further comprises a bridge portion that connectsportions opposed to each other in a ring-shaped portion in the steeringwheel shape, and the compartment, the right lever, and the left leverare provided in the bridge portion.
 6. The accessory device according toclaim 1, wherein a direction in which the right point of load moves bythe right point of effort being pressed is the same as a direction inwhich the right point of effort moves by being pressed by the user basedon the right fulcrum, and a direction in which the left point of loadmoves by the left point of effort being pressed is the same as adirection in which the left point of effort moves by being pressed bythe user based on the left fulcrum.
 7. The accessory device according toclaim 1, wherein a distance by which the right point of load moves bythe right point of effort being pressed is shorter than a distance bywhich the right point of effort moves by being pressed by the user basedon the right fulcrum, and a distance by which the left point of loadmoves by the left point of effort being pressed is shorter than adistance by which the left point of effort moves by the being pressed byuser based on the left fulcrum.
 8. The accessory device according toclaim 1, further comprising: a right biasing portion configured to biasthe right lever in a direction opposite to a direction in which theright lever moves by being pressed by the user; and a left biasingportion configured to bias the left lever in a direction opposite to adirection in which the left lever moves by being pressed by the user.